Beech 55 accident near Gainesville, Florida, October 31, 2018
On October 31, 2018 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1966 Beech 55, registered N5YB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Gainesville, Florida (Gainesville Rgnl airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent landing gear retraction during the landing roll, which resulted in a canted left main landing gear and the wing dragging during the subsequent landing following a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 2018 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Florida · Gainesville Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 55 95B55, built 1966
- Registration
- N5YB · registry record · serial TC-952
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the retractable landing gear-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, he inadvertently moved the landing gear position handle to the "up" position. He immediately recognized his error and moved the handle back to the "down" position. Subsequently, he saw the left wing settle slightly, so he added power and performed a go-around. Once airborne, he asked the tower controllers to observe the landing gear, and they confirmed that the left main landing gear was "canted inward" and did not appear to be down and locked. The pilot stated that, during the second landing, he placed the gear handle in the “down” position and saw the gear indicator lights were showing "down and locked." However, during the landing roll, the left wing settled onto the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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 (landing roll) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 4,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 15, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-520-E (piston); 1,150 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-520-E (piston); 1,150 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TMB Miami FL at 9:15 pm
- Destination: GNV Gainesville FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 07, 4,158 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KGNV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 11, 2019. 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 | Accident 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.