On May 6, 1989, a Beech 58 (registration N8152R) operated by G And R Aircraft Sales was involved in an aviation accident near Brainerd, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear during the approach for landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft struck the terrain while attempting to land on a sod strip after the pilot failed to extend the landing gear, with post-accident inspection showing no system malfunction.
What happened
The incident occurred during an approach and landing phase on a sod runway. According to witness accounts, the aircraft made contact with the ground before the pilot initiated a recovery maneuver. Observers noted a sharp pull-up followed by an increase in engine power immediately after the initial impact. Despite this attempt to regain altitude, the aircraft descended back into the terrain.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the airframe and systems was conducted to determine the mechanical status of the aircraft at the time of the event. Investigators specifically inspected the landing gear mechanism to rule out equipment failure as a contributing factor.
Findings
The investigation revealed that there was no malfunction of the landing gear systems. The primary factor in the accident was determined to be the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown on the sod strip.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear during the approach for landing.