Beechcraft 55 N56AW

Summary

On 20 July 1999 at about 16:28 local time, a Beechcraft 55 registered N56AW, operated by Robert M. Whitmore, was involved in an accident near Nashville, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 July 1999 at 16:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Nashville International (BNA)

Coordinates

36.1098, -86.6603

Aircraft

Beechcraft 55

Registration

N56AW

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Robert M. Whitmore

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL99LA115

Nobody was injured.

The total failure of the nose gear extension and retraction assembly that resulted in the collapse of the nose gear during landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the multi-engine training flight was cleared for a landing on runway 20C. The pilot reported that the before landing checklist was completed, and the landing gear extension was verified by both pilots. The landing on the main wheels, was described as normal, but when the nose wheel was lowered on the runway, both pilots heard a 'pop' followed by the collapse of the nose wheel assembly. The airplane slid 2500 feet before stopping on the runway. The post-accident examination of the airplane disclosed that the nose landing gear aft drag brace had broken. Maintenance history of the failed component was not available.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.