Aero Commander 500-B N917GT

Summary

On 31 October 2013 at about 02:40 local time, a Aero Commander 500-B registered N917GT, operated by Central Air Southwest, was involved in an accident near Lubbock, Texas, United States. One person was 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

31 October 2013 at 02:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Lubbock, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Lubbock Preston Smith Internat (LBB)

Coordinates

33.6402, -101.7799

Aircraft

Aero Commander 500-B

Registration

N917GT

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Central Air Southwest

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

El Paso → Lubbock

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN14LA065

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to complete a landing checklist and extend the landing gear, which resulted in a gear-up landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention to the weather during approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, as the airplane approached the landing airport, he descended through windshear and turbulence before he turned on final; a strong southwest wind caused him to overshoot the final approach segment. The airplane was a "little high and fast," and he was encountering windshear bumps. He reduced engine power and maneuvered back to the runway centerline. He slowed the airplane to landing speed while applying half and then full flaps. The airplane subsequently touched down with the landing gear partially extended. The pilot did not recall seeing the landing gear position lights illuminated green; he further stated that he recited, but did not perform, the landing gear check because he was "very focused" on controlling the airplane through the windshear. He thought he landed the airplane with the gear up, and, at some point during the slide, he instinctively activated the gear handle. He said that he thought that he did not extend the landing gear. Postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed no evidence of mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.