Beech 58 accident near Raleigh, North Carolina, September 8, 2024
On September 8, 2024 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1979 Beech 58, registered N6037M, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Raleigh, North Carolina (Raleigh-Durham International A airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Damage to the landing gear selector switch wire bundle which resulted in an inadvertent retraction of the landing gear during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 2024 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Raleigh, North Carolina · Raleigh-Durham International A · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 UNDESIGNAT, built 1979 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N6037M · registry record · serial TH-1022
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll, the pilot accelerated the airplane to rotation speed. Upon starting to rotate the airplane, the nose landing gear began a retraction sequence, collapsing under the airplane, and the pilot reduced the throttles to idle and applied the brakes. The main landing gear also retracted, and the airplane slid to a stop on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the lower fuselage. Both the pilot and the pilot rated passenger verified that the landing gear handle was in the down position prior to and after the accident sequence. Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed damage to several wires leading to the landing gear selector switch on the instrument panel. The wires were found to be actively arcing when moved or touched.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Landing gear collapse during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Land gear sys wiring › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 846 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 702 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 4, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 334.6 hours in all; 297 as pilot in command; 246 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,416.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 15, 2024; 35.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-520-CB (piston); 1,894 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-520-CB (piston); 1,582 hours total
- Operator: Raleigh Flying Club LLC
The flight
- Destination: AVL Asheville NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5R, 7,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from RDU, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRDU 081751Z VRB03KT 10SM FEW070 FEW100 24/11 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP196 T02390106 10244 20150 58006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Landing gear switch wiring
Photograph 2 – Chafed gear switch wires
Photograph 3 – Lower fuselage accident damageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on January 3, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Passenger | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Passenger Info and Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.