# Accident 20250809012389A: Beech S35, Lowell, MI, August 9, 2025 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 9, 2025, 10:00 local time - Place: Lowell, MI - Airport: Lowell City Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Landing: Approach - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 42.9556° N, 85.3464° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9556&lon=-85.3464&mi=10 - Aircraft: N861T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N861T) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Beech S35 (registry code 1151532, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH S35 - Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 1,894 total, 663 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA319) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250809012389A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. I WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS INCIDENT ON MONDAY AUGUST 11, 2025, AT 1215 EST. I PHONED THE ROC TO REPORT THIS EVENT. CONTACTED LOWELL AIRPORT (24C) MANAGER. HE STATED THAT ON SATURDAY AUGUST 9, 2025, APPROXIMATELY 1030 EST THAT THIS AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A GEAR UP LANDING ON RUNWAY 24. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS RETURNING FROM A LOCAL EVENT AT SPARTA, MI AIRPORT (8D4) AND ON HIS APPROACH TO LOWELL (24C) HE WAS DISTRACTED BY A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WEEKS PRIOR, JUST WEST OF THE RUNWAY AND HE FORGOT TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR AND HE LANDED ON THE BELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH FLAPS IN THE DOWN POSITION, PROPELLER STRUCK THE RUNWAY SURFACE AND HE CAME TO A REST ON RUNWAY 24. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST WITH NO FIRE, NO FUEL LEAKS, AND NO INJURIES. AIRPORT MANAGER AND THE PILOT CALLED A LOCAL RECOVERY COMPANY, AND THEY ASSISTED IN LIFTING THE AIRCRAFT AND PLACING IT BACK DOWN ON ITS LANDING GEAR. THE AIRPORT MANAGER ASSISTED THE PILOT IN TOWING THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE PILOT’S HANGAR D2 LOCATED ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE AIRPORT (24C). THIS RECOVERY TOOK APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. THE AIRPORT MANAGER FAILED TO SEND A NOTAM AND CLOSE THE RUNWAY DURING THIS EVENT. THE PILOT AND AIRPORT MANAGER DID NOT CONTACT THE NTSB. I ARRIVED AT LOWELL, MI AIRPORT (24C) ON 08/12/2025 AT 0900 ESDT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED INSIDE HANGAR D2 ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RESTING ON ALL 3-LANDING GEAR UPRIGHT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKS OR FIRE. I FOUND THE NOSE LANDING GEAR DOORS HAD BEEN REMOVED AND THE LOWER LIGHT BEACON WAS UNMOUNTED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND TOOLS LAYING ON THE GROUND UNDER THE AIRCRAFT. UPON A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, I DOCUMENTED DAMAGE TO THE NOSE WHELL WELL AND SURROUNDING INTERNAL STRUCTURES. INBOARD FLAPS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, ANTENNAS AND LIGHTS ON THE BELLY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. ALL THREE PROPELLER BLADES SHOW EVIDENCE OF A STRIKE WHILE UNDER POWER. ALL CONTROL SURFACES APPEARED TO HAVE CONTINUITY AND FREE TRAVEL IN ALL DIRECTIONS. I HAVE COUNSELED THE PILOT AND AIRPORT MANAGER AS TO HOW AND WHEN TO REPORT AN ACCIDENT. ## 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 CEN25LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA319), Aug 9, 2025: Beech S35 (N861T), Lowell, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing. ## Other reports on N861T (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20240110004629I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240110004629I), Jan 10, 2024: Beech S35 (N861T), Chesterfield, MO, Minor damage. January 10, 2024 aircraft experienced a nose gear collapse upon landing at Spirit of saint Louis airport (sus). The aircraft sustained minor damage that… - [Incident 20080618841349I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080618841349I), Jun 18, 2008: Beech S35 (N861T), St Louis, MO, Minor damage. (-23) The pilot tried to extend the landing gear by the normal means. The gear started to extend but locked up and would not extend any further. After… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.