Beech C90 accident near Montague, California, February 12, 2018
On February 12, 2018 at about 11:45 pm local time, a 1994 Beech C90, registered N118MF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Montague, California (Siskiyou County airport). It was an instructional 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
The failure of pilot to extend the landing gear during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 2018 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Montague, California · Siskiyou County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C90 A, built 1994 · all C90s on the register
- Registration
- N118MF · no longer on the register · serial LJ-1383
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot in a retractable landing gear airplane, accompanied by a company check pilot, reported that they were conducting a training flight in preparation for a Title 14 CFR Part 135 check ride. During a no-flap landing exercise, as the airplane crossed the runway threshold, the pilot set the airplane power to idle, and an aural warning sounded, which indicated that the landing gear was retracted. The airplane landed with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Not used/operated
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 11,200 hours in all; 7,000 in this make and model; 7,250 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 20, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, 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: 5,200 hours in all; 1,110 in this make and model; 3,700 as pilot in command; 999 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 7, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,343 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 8, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 10,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-21 (turboprop); 8,203 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-21 (turboprop); 8,343 hours total
- Operator: Mercy Flights INC
The flight
- Departed from: MFR Medford OR at 9:20 pm
- Destination: MFR Medford OR
- Runway 35, 7,490 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 21, 2018. 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 | Photo | 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.