Beech 58 accident near Brainerd, Minnesota, May 6, 1989
On May 6, 1989 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N8152R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brainerd, Minnesota (East Gull Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILURE TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INATTENTIVENESS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1989 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Brainerd, Minnesota · East Gull Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N8152R · registry record · serial TH-508
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A SOD STRIP, THE PILOT FAILED TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR. WITNESSES SAID THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TERRAIN, FOLLOWED BY A SHARP PULL UP AND INCREASE IN POWER. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DESCENDED INTO THE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MALFUNCTION OF THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEMS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,063 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 802 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C/CB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: G And R Aircraft Sales
The flight
- Departed from: D16 Breezy Point MN at 10:30 pm
- Destination: 9Y2 East Gull Lake MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,618 ft by 130 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from BRD, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N8152R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.