Beech 58 accident near Florence, South Carolina, December 27, 2024
On December 27, 2024 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1974 Beech 58, registered N458K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Florence, South Carolina (Florence Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to follow the emergency procedures and extend the landing gear manually after the landing gear did not initially extend normally.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 2024 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Florence, South Carolina · Florence Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58, built 1974 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N458K · registry record · serial TH-452
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on a return, cross country flight to his home airport in instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that he first performed a non-precision approach into the airport, where he reported that the landing gear extended normally. After performing a missed approach, the pilot retracted the landing gear and he then performed a precision approach in the opposite direction. The pilot reported that he put the landing gear switch in the down position, but that the landing gear did not extend. The pilot elected to continue the approach without troubleshooting, extending the gear manually, or referring to the emergency checklist. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane on the runway with the landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. After the accident, the pilot performed an operational check and troubleshooting of the landing gear without authorization. The pilot reported that the landing gear again failed to extend, but would retract during his testing. The pilot also reported that the manual landing gear extension system operated normally. During the testing, the pilot said he found an “open circuit of the gear relay due to moisture or foreign debris.” After troubleshooting, the pilot reported that the landing gear started to operate normally. After the pilot had performed the unauthorized troubleshooting, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the landing gear system, and performed a functional test, during which he found that it operated normally.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during approach (IFR final approach)
- Landing gear not configured during landing defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,275 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 10.5 in the last 90 days; 12.1 in the last 30 days; 7,275 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 13, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,438 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 2024; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 5: Continental Motors IO-520-C7B (piston); 502 hours total
- Engine 6: Continental Motors IO-520-C7B (piston); 764 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BKW Beckley WV at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 09, 6,502 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 6:42 pm from KFLO
Weather report (METAR): KFLO 272342Z 03007KT 2SM -RA BR OVC003 09/08 A3028 RMK AO2 P0001 T00890078
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on July 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot Interview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Pilot Interview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Operator's Manual Excerpt - Emergency Procedures - Manual Landing Gear Extension | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum for Record - Description of FAA Landing Gear Test Video | PDF, 1 page | 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.