# NTSB CEN25LA087: Epic E1000, N44BN, Arcola, TX, January 23, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 22, 2025, 22:50 local (Jan 23, 2025, 04:50 UTC)
- Place: Arcola, TX
- Coordinates: 29.50621, -95.476695
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5062&lon=-95.4767&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA - Houston, TX FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199592
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199592/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199592
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA087

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to extend the airplane’s landing gear before landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Epic E1000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=3390119), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Epic E1000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=3390119), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [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: [Epic E1000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=3390119), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Epic E1000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=3390119), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Epic E1000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=3390119), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he thought he put the landing gear down on the base leg of the traffic pattern before the landing. It was dark with no wind and his approach and landing flare were normal with no indication of any issues until the airplane began to vibrate and he heard noise from the propeller and saw sparks. The pilot realized he had forgotten to extend the landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot said that thinking back on the sequence of events that he could not recall hearing any type of aural warning from the avionics indicating that the landing gear was not extended. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44BN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44BN), registered now, S/N K077, built 2024 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EPIC AIRCRAFT LLC E1000
- Registry model: [Epic E1000](https://openairdocs.org/model/epic-e1000) (registry code 3390119) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-67a) (registry code 52207, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: K077
- Year built: 2024
- Airframe hours: 40
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6 1200 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hes Leasing Company LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KCRQ, Carlsbad, CA
- Destination: KAXH, Houston, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AXH, Houston Southwest Airport, runway 27, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,452 total, 22 in this make and model, 72 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observed at: KAXH
- METAR: KAXH 230255Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 00/M01 A3037 RMK AO2 T00041009

## 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 20250122000269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250122000269A), Jan 22, 2025: Epic Aircraft LLC E1000, Arcola, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed crq enroute to axh. Aircraft landed at destination airport on or about 22:55 hrs local time without landing gear extended, touching down…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199592. 51.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 50.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18418474&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA087%20-%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18359333&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA087%20-%20MOR%20-%20Pilot%20Account%20of%20Acc.-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 816 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18359714&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA087%20-%20Photos-Rel.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.

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