# NTSB CEN09CA223: Beech D35, N342R, Taos, NM, March 16, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 16, 2009, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Taos, NM - Coordinates: 36.454723, -105.669998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4547&lon=-105.6700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73523 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73523/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA223 ## Probable cause The failure of the student pilot to complete the before landing checklist. Contributing to the accident was his failure to lower the landing gear before landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D35, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1151510), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=1151510), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151510), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech D35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1151510), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Beech D35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1151510), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was landing at the non-towered airport after a cross country flight, when he made a "short approach", did not use any flaps, and kept an approach speed that was about 30 knots faster than normal. The student pilot said he didn't use his normal checklist procedure and that everything seemed to be going "too fast" when the airplane landed on the asphalt runway with the landing gear retracted and the skin on the belly of the fuselage was ground down to the main keel. There was no injury to the solo student pilot, but substantial damage to the fuselage structure. ## Factual narrative The student pilot was landing at the non-towered airport after a cross country flight. He stated that he initiated a "short approach", did not use any flaps, and kept an approach speed that was about 30 knots faster than normal. The student pilot said that he did not use his normal checklist procedure and that everything seemed to be going "too fast." The airplane landed on the asphalt runway with the landing gear retracted and the skin on the belly of the fuselage was ground down to the main keel. There was no injury to the solo student pilot, but substantial damage to the fuselage structure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N342R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N342R-2011-06-13), registration cancelled 2011-06-13, S/N D-3422, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH D35 - Registry model: [Beech D35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d35) (registry code 1151510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-3422 - Airframe hours: 4033 - Engines: Continental IO-520 BB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 2008, 50 hours before - Departed: E14, Espanola, NM - Destination: KSKX, Taos, NM - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KSKX, Taos Regional Airport, runway 22, 5,803 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 66; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review January 1, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 4,800 total, 90 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KSKX ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090316002419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090316002419A), Mar 16, 2009: Beech D35, Taos, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On 03/16/2009, at approximately 1045MDT, N342R, a BE-35-D35 was landed gear up at the Taos municipal airport, Taos, new Mexico (kskx). The aircraft was… 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. --- 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.