Wheels-up landing at Effingham County Memorial Airport

Casualties unknown • Effingham, IL, US

A pilot performed a gear-up landing on runway 29 in Effingham, Illinois, after misinterpreting an audible warning during the approach.

What happened

A wheels-up landing occurred on runway 29 at Effingham County Memorial Airport in Effingham, Illinois. During the approach, the pilot reported completing a seven-item checklist, which included verifying the landing gear position. As the aircraft transitioned to the base leg, the pilot began extending the flaps.

The aircraft touched down on the runway centerline, at which point the pilot noted a low vibration. When the throttles were moved to the idle position, the gear warning horn activated; the pilot initially mistook this sound for the stall warning horn. During the subsequent recovery of the aircraft, the pilot set the master switch to the 'ON' position, which again triggered the landing gear warning horn. Upon moving the landing gear handle to the down position, the gear extended. The pilot noted that the flap control and the landing gear control were positioned approximately five inches apart.

Probable cause

The pilot failed to properly verify the landing gear position due to a misinterpretation of the gear warning horn as a stall warning horn.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1999-06-04 Aero Commander 500 accident near Effingham, IL?

A pilot performed a gear-up landing on runway 29 in Effingham, Illinois, after misinterpreting an audible warning during the approach.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1999-06-04 involved a Aero Commander 500, registration N711NE, at Effingham, IL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot failed to properly verify the landing gear position due to a misinterpretation of the gear warning horn as a stall warning horn.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X18936. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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