History of Flight
On October 23, 2013, at about 1530 Alaska daylight time, ERA Alaska flight 878, a Beechcraft 1900C (N575U), was landing on runway 22 at Homer Airport (HOM), Homer, Alaska. The scheduled domestic passenger flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 121, originated from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC). The captain, who was the pilot flying, conducted a visual approach. The aircraft was configured with landing gear down and flaps in the landing position. After touchdown, the first officer selected the landing gear handle up. The nose landing gear and both main landing gear retracted, causing the airplane to slide to a stop on the runway, resting on the lower fuselage, wings, and engine nacelles.
Injuries to Persons
There were no injuries to the 13 passengers or 2 crewmembers on board.
Damage to Aircraft
The airplane sustained substantial damage, including deformation and wear from runway contact. The lower fuselage dragged along the runway, resulting in structural damage to the fuselage skin, stringers, and frames. Both propellers sustained damage from contact with the runway surface.
Personnel Information
The flight crew consisted of two pilots, and the accident occurred on their first flight of the day. The captain, age 34, had 7,609 total flight hours, including 6,639 hours as pilot-in-command and 739 hours in the BE-1900. He held an FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate with type ratings for BE-1900 and DHC-8 (second-in-command privileges only) and a current first-class medical certificate. The first officer, age 58, had 2,337 total flight hours, including 383 hours in the BE-1900. He held an FAA ATP certificate and a current first-class medical certificate with a limitation requiring corrective lenses.
Aircraft Information
N575U (serial number UC-93) was a Beech 1900C equipped with two Pratt and Whitney PT6A-65B turboprop engines. The airframe had approximately 29,841 total hours. No open maintenance items were recorded. The estimated landing weight was 14,991 pounds. The flap position lever was found in the LANDING position post-accident. The landing gear selector lever was in the UP position. A safety switch on the right main landing gear prevents raising the gear handle when the strut is compressed, unless manually overridden by pressing a release button.
Meteorological Information
Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The Homer Airport surface observation at 1453 AKDT reported wind from 070 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 6°C, dew point -3°C, and altimeter 29.79 inches of mercury.
Aerodrome Information
Homer Airport (HOM) is located about 2 miles east of Homer, AK. Runway 22 is asphalt, 6,701 feet long and 150 feet wide, with a touchdown zone elevation of 74 feet. The runway has a visual approach slope indicator system (VASI) with a 3-degree glide path on the left side and a medium intensity approach light system with runway alignment indicator lights (MALSR).
Flight Recorders
The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was an L-3/Fairchild FA2100-1020. It contained 2 hours, 4 minutes of recording on 4 channels with excellent audio quality. The flight data recorder (FDR) was a Loral/Fairchild F1000. It was found with the total pressure line disconnected but in good condition; the Pneumatic Indicated Airspeed parameter exhibited static pressure characteristics. Manufacturer testing confirmed recorder functionality.
Tests and Research
Post-accident tests included placing the aircraft on jacks and performing normal landing gear operation, as well as an operational check of the safety switch and its ground mode override function. All tests indicated normal operation with no anomalies.