# Accident 20260424010719A: Beech F33A, Sanford, NC, April 24, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 24, 2026, 12:00 local time
- Place: Sanford, NC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.5805° N, 79.1023° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5805&lon=-79.1023&mi=10
- Aircraft: N85WM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85WM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech F33A (registry code 1151425, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH F33A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 289 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA191) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260424010719A

## Narrative

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

THE PIC WAS TRAINING IFR APPOACHES WITH CFI ONBOARD. DURING THEIR FINAL IFR APPROACH INTO KTTA THE PIC BEGAN THE GEAR EXTENSION TO LAND. ONCE HE INITIATED THE GEAR EXTENSION THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER. PIC BEGAN DOING HIS EMERGENCY CHECK LIST WHILE THE PASSENGER USED A HANDHELD RADIO TO COMMUNICATE. PIC BEGAN THE MANUAL EXTENSION AND HE FELT THAT THE GEAR WAS DOWN. THEY DID A LOW AND SLOW PASS OVER ASKING IF THE GROUND COULD SEE THEIR GEAR DOWN. THE GROUND SAID THEY COULD SEE THE GEAR DOWN BUT DID NOT KNOW IF IT WAS LOCKED. THEY PROCEEDED TO LAND; THEY SLOWLY TOUCHED DOWN AND THE LANDING GEARS COLLAPSED.

## 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 ERA26LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA191), Apr 24, 2026: Beech F33A (N85WM), Sanford, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of electrical power as a result of broken stator leads within the alternator, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to extend the airplane’s landing gear.

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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