# NTSB CEN11LA254: North American B25, N747AF, Encinal, TX, March 26, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 26, 2011, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Encinal, TX - Coordinates: 28.071666, -99.285278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0717&lon=-99.2853&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 9 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78717 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA254 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78717/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78717 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA254 ## Probable cause The co-pilot’s premature retraction of the landing gear during takeoff, which resulted in a gear collapse and impact with the runway surface. ## 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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [North American B-25J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=6400710), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Copilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American B-25J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=6400710), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063500): Personnel issues › Task performance · Copilot; cases with it: [North American B-25J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063500/cases.md?model=6400710), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [North American B-25J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=6400710), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [North American B-25J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=6400710), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [North American B-25J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=6400710), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [North American B-25J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=6400710), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the takeoff roll, at an airspeed of about 60 knots, the pilot rotated the nose of the airplane to the standard angle for takeoff. The co-pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, he thought that the pilot had called for the landing gear to be retracted, so he reached down and moved the landing gear handle. Shortly thereafter the landing gear began to collapse and both propellers and the fuselage impacted the runway surface. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident and the co-pilot said that he prematurely raised the gear handle. ## Factual narrative On March 26, 2011, about 1300 central daylight time, a North American B-25J, multi-engine airplane, N747AF, was substantially damaged when the landing gear collapsed during take-off at El Jardin Ranch Airport (XA66), Encinal, Texas. A postimpact fire ensued. The airplane was owned and operated by Lewis Fighter Fleet LLC., San Antonio, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot, co-pilot, flight mechanic, and six passengers were not injured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. During the takeoff roll, at an airspeed of about 60 knots, the pilot rotated the nose of the airplane to the standard angle for takeoff. The co-pilot stated that he thought that the pilot had called for the landing gear to be retracted at that time so he reached down and selected the landing gear handle to the up position. Shortly thereafter the landing gear began to collapse and the airplane settled onto the runway and slid to a stop. Both propellers impacted the runway surface, resulting in damage to both engines and propellers. The impact and postimpact fire resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident and the co-pilot said he prematurely raised the gear handle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N747AF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N747AF), registered now, S/N 44-30456, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN B25 (J) - Registry model: [North American B-25J](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-b-25j) (registry code 6400710) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wright R-2600-35](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-2600-35) (registry code 67127, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 44-30456 - Airframe hours: 7460 - Engines: Wright R-2600-35 1700 horsepower reciprocating; Wright R-2600-35 1700 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lewis Fighter Fleet LLC - Registered owner: Lewis Fighter Fleet LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, January 7, 2011 - Departed: XA66, Encinal, TX - Destination: XA66, Encinal, TX - Airport: XA66, El Jardin Ranch Airport, runway 12, 6,270 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 24, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 5,700 total, 400 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 30, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 5,596 total, 24 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Observed at: KCOT, 23 nm away ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 17, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78717. 995 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 838 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382359&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382360&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Weather Summary (item 3, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382361&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Summary-Master.PDF - Map - Airport Diagram (item 4, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382362&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20-%20Airport%20Diagram-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.