# NTSB CEN11CA212: Beech G35, N437D, Brenham, TX, February 27, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 27, 2011, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Brenham, TX - Coordinates: 30.218334, -96.371109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2183&lon=-96.3711&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78479 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78479/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78479 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA212 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear during the approach resulting in a gear-up landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech G35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech G35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Communications system: interphone](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022340): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Beech G35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022340/cases.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022340/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear position and warning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Beech G35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260/cases.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260/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 downwind: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Beech G35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech G35, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Beech G35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was arriving to land at a busy non-towered airport. He inadvertently forgot to extend the landing gear, partly because of the strong gusting headwind he experienced on final approach. His attention was directed toward making a smooth touchdown when he suddenly saw the propeller stop as it contacted the runway surface. After the airplane came to a stop, the pilot removed his electronic noise canceling headphones and he then heard the landing gear warning horn which was not wired into the audio interphone system. As a result of the impact sequence, there was substantial damage to the fuselage structure. ## Factual narrative The pilot was arriving to land at a busy non-towered airport. Two military helicopters were doing practice approaches ahead of the accident airplane and two other aircraft were also in the traffic pattern. The pilot reported he inadvertently forgot to extend the landing gear, partly because of the strong gusting headwinds he experienced on final approach. His attention was directed toward making a smooth touchdown when he suddenly saw the propeller stop as the airplane contacted the runway surface. After the airplane came to a stop the pilot removed his electronic noise canceling headphones and he then heard the landing gear warning horn which was not wired into the audio interphone system. There was substantial damage to the fuselage structure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N437D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N437D-2017-10-19), registration cancelled 2017-10-19, S/N D-4530, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH G35 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Beech G35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-g35) (registry code 1151516) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-4530 - Airframe hours: 5485 - Engines: Continental E225 Series 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 2010, 35 hours before - Departed: TS07, Cypress, TX - Destination: 11R, Brenham, TX - Airport: 11R, Brenham Municipal Airport, runway 17, 6,003 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 18, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,745 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,745 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 20 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.71 inHg - Observed at: K11R ## 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 20110227004999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110227004999A), Feb 27, 2011: Beech G35, Brenham, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was landing straight in on runway 16 at Brenham Municipal Airport (11R), Brenham, Texas at approximently 13:00 local when he became distracted by… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78479. 381 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 297 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344913&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Map - Airport Diagram (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345975&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20-%20Airport%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Weather Summary (item 3, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345976&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Summary-Master.PDF 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.