# Accident 20230831016959A: Beech N35, Ennis, MT, August 31, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 2023, 11:00 local time
- Place: Ennis, MT
- Airport: Ennis Big Sky
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.2757° N, 111.6489° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2757&lon=-111.6489&mi=10
- Aircraft: N92NJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N92NJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech N35 (registry code 1151528, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-n35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH N35
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 504 total, 38 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA331](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA331) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230831016959A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVIATION:

WHILE OPERATING ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD A GEAR-UP LANDING AT KEKS, ENNIS, MT AIRPORT ON RUNWAY 16 AFTER THE PILOT FAILED TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR.

CAUSAUL AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FLIGHT WAS NORMAL, THERE WAS NO ADVERSE WEATHER AND ONLY ONE OTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AS HE APPROACHED THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT REPORTED EXTENDING THE DOWNWIND TO THE NORTH AS HE APPROACHED THE AIRPORT TO LOSE MORE ALTITUDE AND STEP DOWN TO PATTERN ALTITUDE AFTER COMING INTO THE VALLEY FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE EAST OF THE FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE DOWNWIND IS WHEN HE NORMALLY CONDUCTED THE FIRST “GUMPS” CHECK, HOWEVER, THIS CHECK AND ANY SUBSEQUENT “GUMPS” CHECK WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE RECALLED CHATTING WITH THE PASSENGER ABOUT THE VASI LIGHTS DURING THE APPROACH.

NO ATC ACTIONS CONTRIBUTORY TO THE EVENT.

NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC CORRECTIVE ACTION.

ACTION TAKEN TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND PREVENT REOCCURANCE:

COMPLIANCE ACTION – COUNSELING. THE PILOT WAS COUNSELED ON SINGLE PILOT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, CHECKLIST USAGE AND METHODS TO ENSURE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS TO INCLUDE A STERILE COCKPIT DURING CRITICAL PHASES OF FLIGHT TO AVOID DISTRACTIONS.

SAS: NM05202400346

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR23LA331](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA331), Aug 31, 2023: Beech N35 (N92NJ), Ennis, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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