On September 10, 2015, about 2035 central daylight time, a Beech 58 twin-engine airplane, registration N4199S, sustained substantial damage while landing at Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY), Gary, Indiana. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to Charity Homes, Inc., and operated by Midwest Air Link under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as a non-scheduled domestic cargo positioning flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight operated on an activated instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight departed Columbus Municipal Airport (BAK), Columbus, Indiana, about 2030 eastern daylight time en route to GYY.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that he was flying the ILS Runway 30 approach to GYY. He lowered the approach flaps approximately 5.5 miles from the airport and lowered the landing gear about 5 miles from the airport. As he was turning off the positioning lights to brighten the landing gear indicator lights, the propellers struck the runway and the airplane skidded on its belly on the runway. The pilot closed the throttles and mixture, and turned off the master switch.
Air Traffic Control Observation
The air traffic controller in the GYY control tower reported seeing the nose landing light before the airplane touched down.
Aircraft Examination
Examination revealed that the airplane's wing spar sustained substantial damage. The belly panels, flaps, and nose landing gear doors exhibited scraping damage consistent with contact with the runway. Damage to the nose landing gear doors was consistent with the nose landing gear being in the retracted position. No damage was observed to the inner or outer landing gear doors.
Landing Gear System Check
A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector oversaw an examination of the landing gear system. The airplane was placed on jacks, and the system was checked by lowering and raising the landing gear handle in the cockpit. Both main and nose landing gear lowered and raised normally, and the landing gear light indicators operated normally.
Weather Conditions
At 2045, the surface weather observation at GYY reported: wind 290 degrees at 5 knots, 20 miles visibility, sky clear, temperature 17 degrees Celsius, dew point 14 degrees Celsius, altimeter 29.92 inches of mercury.
Standard Procedures
The landing checklist is accomplished after the landing gear is lowered and the airplane is in the landing configuration. While on short final and in the flare, if there are doubts about the landing gear configuration, a go-around should be accomplished.