Beech A100 accident near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1989
On March 22, 1989 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Beech A100, registered N23605, was substantially damaged in an accident near Johnstown, Pennsylvania (Johnstown airport). It was a positioning 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
FAILURE OF THE DOWN LOCK PLATE, WHICH ALLOWED THE LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 1989 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Johnstown, Pennsylvania · Johnstown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A100 · all A100s on the register
- Registration
- N23605 · registry record · serial B-236
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LANDING ROLL OUT, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE LANDING GEAR DOWN LOCK PLATE WAS BROKEN, WHICH ALLOWED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE INTO THE WHEEL WELL.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,245 hours in all; 388 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 4,625 as pilot in command; 2,943 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,614 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 17, 1989; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,500 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-28 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AGC West Mifflin PA at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33, 5,486 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.