DEN87IA032

Factual narrative

N124AV WAS OPERATING AS BIG SKY AIRLINES FLT 3857, SCHEDULED SERVICE FROM HELENA TO BILLINGS. THE FLT PROCEEDED UNEVENTFULLY UNTIL THE APCH INTO BILLINGS. THE FLT CREW STATED AFTER THE INCIDENT THAT WHEN THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE, VERIFYING THE 'DOWN AND LOCKED POSITION..' AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO ILLUMINATE THE LIGHTS AND CONFIRM THE POSITION OF THE LANDING GEAR, THE CREW EXECUTED AN INTENTIONAL GEAR UP LANDING. POST INCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM REVEALED IT WAS CAPABLE OF NORMAL OPERATION. THE MALFUNCTIONING COCKPIT INDICATOR LIGHT WAS TRACED BACK TO AN INOPERATIVE OUTBOARD DOWNLOCK MICROSWITCH. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12