Beech 95-B55 accident near Minden, Nevada, July 24, 2004
On July 24, 2004, a Beech 95-B55, registered N88CS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minden, Nevada (Minden-Tahoe airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to lower the landing gear during landing approach, which resulted in his inadvertent gear up landing. A factor was his distraction due to a component malfunction.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2004
- Place
- Minden, Nevada · Minden-Tahoe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N88CS · registry record · serial TC-723
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the approach, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear, and the airplane touched down on the runway with retracted landing gear. The pilot was an airplane mechanic, and he was in the process of preparing the airplane for export. The accident occurred during the first flight following his replacement of both engines' propeller assemblies. On departure, while concentrating on synchronizing the engine's speed, the pilot detected "a slight smell of electrical burning" in the cockpit. The odor increased on the downwind leg, and the pilot "expedited" the base leg and believed that he had extended the landing gear. During the landing flare the stall warning horn sounded and the propeller blades contacted the runway. Subsequently, the Federal Aviation Administration coordinator conducted an examination of the airplane. The airplane was placed on jacks and the landing gear system was tested. The landing gear was completely cycled three times with positive indications of the gear being up and then in the down position. This was noted by the gear up and down indicator lights, and also by the gear mechanical indicator. The starter vibrator was found discolored and charred indicating the presence of an overheated condition.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,150 hours in all; 745 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 17, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,704 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 2004; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Gfa Aircraft Sales
The flight
- Departed from: MEV Minden NV
- Destination: MEV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 7,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 18,000 ft; a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.