On September 13, 1982, a Beech F33A (registration N2306M) operated by Western Aviation Flight Center was involved in an aviation accident near San Jose, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot was accustomed to flying a different model Beech aircraft in which the flap and landing gear controls are the reverse of those in N2036M, and no mechanical malfunction or failure was found. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a right turn onto a taxiway after landing rollout, the nose gear and right main landing gear of Beech N2036M collapsed. Investigation revealed the pilot was accustomed to a different Beech model with reversed flap and gear controls; no mechanical failure was found.
Accident
The pilot reported that while making a right turn onto a taxiway following the landing rollout, the nose gear and right main landing gear collapsed.
Investigation
An investigation into the incident revealed that the pilot was accustomed to flying a different model of Beech aircraft. In that other model, the controls for the flaps and landing gear are arranged in the reverse order compared to those in N2036M.
Examination of the landing gear components found no evidence of any mechanical malfunction or failure that occurred prior to the accident. The gear was determined to have been in proper working condition.
Findings
The collapse occurred during a right turn on the taxiway after touchdown. The pilot's familiarity with a different Beech model, which features opposite control configurations for flaps and landing gear, was identified as a relevant factor. No mechanical issues with the landing gear system were discovered.
Probable cause
The pilot was accustomed to flying a different model Beech aircraft in which the flap and landing gear controls are the reverse of those in N2036M, and no mechanical malfunction or failure was found.