On January 24, 1984, a Beech D55 (registration N873LB) was involved in an aviation accident near Monterey, CA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported extending gear and flaps before landing, but after touching down on the wheels, the aircraft settled on its belly and slid. Scrape marks indicated the gear was retracted during the slide. No preimpact failures were found.
Incident Overview
According to the pilot, the landing gear and flaps were extended before the approach. On final approach, the pilot rechecked that the gear was down and observed the green gear-down-and-locked light illuminated. The pilot and both passengers reported that the aircraft touched down on the wheels, then settled onto its belly and slid to a stop.
Post-Landing Fire
After the aircraft stopped, a fire started but was contained by the fire department.
Investigation Findings
Horizontal scrape marks were found on the landing gear doors, indicating that the aircraft slid with the gear in the retracted position. No preimpact part or component failure or malfunction was identified during the examination.