N9239Q

On March 12, 1998, at 1940 mountain standard time, a Beech 58, N9239Q, sustained substantial damage during a gear up landing at Taos Municipal Airport, Taos, New Mexico. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured, and there was no damage to other property. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Austin, Texas, at 1540 central standard time.

According to the pilot's accident report, he attempted to lower the landing gear in preparation for a normal landing on runway 22. When he lowered the landing gear switch, the "gear lock indicators failed to indicate that the landing gear had been moved to the down-and-locked position. The switch was raised and lowered again but failed to lower the landing gear." He also attempted to lower the landing gear by manual extension, but was unsuccessful. After circling the airport for approximately 20-30 minutes, the pilot notified ground personnel of the situation and executed an emergency gear-up landing.

Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed that the landing gear box had failed, causing the flaps attachment tracks to separate from the spar webbing, and the belly formers to be damaged.