Narrative:

Prior to departure; we noticed that our airplane had been towed with the nose gear pin still installed. We consulted with company maintenance personnel and were advised that the aircraft was suitable for dispatch. We taxied out and took off; performing the normal checks and found nothing suspicious. On final; when the gear was selected down; the nose gear showed an unsafe condition. We tested the light and recycled the gear; but the problem remained. We broke off the approach; climbed to 3000 ft MSL and flew headings assigned by ATC. We leveled and stabilized and discussed the situation and the checklists. We performed the emergency gear extension checklist; but the nose gear still showed unsafe. We declared an emergency. We accepted ZZZ1 because it was VFR; there was no convective activity; the runway was long; crash fire rescue equipment was available and the winds were much; much more favorable than those at ZZZ. We briefed our passenger and descended for the airport. We performed 1 low pass; made left traffic at 1100 ft MSL; and then made a normal visual approach and landing. The nose gear remained intact with normal steering. We cleared the runway under our own power; parked in the run-up area and called for a tug.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WW24 EXPERIENCES GEAR UNSAFE LIGHT ON FLT SUBSEQUENT TO BEING TOWED WITH THE NOSE GEAR PIN IN PLACE. LNDG UNDER EMER CONDITIONS NORMAL.

Narrative: PRIOR TO DEP; WE NOTICED THAT OUR AIRPLANE HAD BEEN TOWED WITH THE NOSE GEAR PIN STILL INSTALLED. WE CONSULTED WITH COMPANY MAINT PERSONNEL AND WERE ADVISED THAT THE ACFT WAS SUITABLE FOR DISPATCH. WE TAXIED OUT AND TOOK OFF; PERFORMING THE NORMAL CHKS AND FOUND NOTHING SUSPICIOUS. ON FINAL; WHEN THE GEAR WAS SELECTED DOWN; THE NOSE GEAR SHOWED AN UNSAFE CONDITION. WE TESTED THE LIGHT AND RECYCLED THE GEAR; BUT THE PROB REMAINED. WE BROKE OFF THE APCH; CLBED TO 3000 FT MSL AND FLEW HDGS ASSIGNED BY ATC. WE LEVELED AND STABILIZED AND DISCUSSED THE SIT AND THE CHKLISTS. WE PERFORMED THE EMER GEAR EXTENSION CHKLIST; BUT THE NOSE GEAR STILL SHOWED UNSAFE. WE DECLARED AN EMER. WE ACCEPTED ZZZ1 BECAUSE IT WAS VFR; THERE WAS NO CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY; THE RWY WAS LONG; CFR WAS AVAILABLE AND THE WINDS WERE MUCH; MUCH MORE FAVORABLE THAN THOSE AT ZZZ. WE BRIEFED OUR PAX AND DSNDED FOR THE ARPT. WE PERFORMED 1 LOW PASS; MADE L TFC AT 1100 FT MSL; AND THEN MADE A NORMAL VISUAL APCH AND LNDG. THE NOSE GEAR REMAINED INTACT WITH NORMAL STEERING. WE CLRED THE RWY UNDER OUR OWN PWR; PARKED IN THE RUN-UP AREA AND CALLED FOR A TUG.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.