# NTSB CEN25LA319: Beech S35, N861T, Lowell, MI, August 9, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 9, 2025, 09:35 local (13:35 UTC)
- Place: Lowell, MI
- Coordinates: 42.955625, -85.346397
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9556&lon=-85.3464&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200781
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA319
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200781/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA319

## Probable cause

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

## Findings

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

- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech S35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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: [Beech S35, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151532), [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: [Beech S35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1151532), [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-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech S35, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while flying in the traffic pattern at the destination airport, he diverted his attention outside of the airplane and forgot to extend the landing gear. He did not recall hearing the landing gear warning horn during the landing. The airplane landed with the landing gear retracted and came to rest upright on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom of the fuselage near the nose gear wheel well. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N861T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N861T), registered now, S/N D-7507, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH S35
- Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-7507
- Year built: 1964
- Engines: Continental Motors IO-550 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 11, 2025
- Departed: 8D4, Sparta, MI
- Destination: 24C, Lowell, MI
- Airport: 24C, Lowell City, runway 12/30, 2,394 × 48 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review May 10, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,687.3 total, 699.9 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: KGRR, 9 nm away
- METAR: KGRR 091353Z 16009KT 10SM FEW250 27/21 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02670211

## 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 20250809012389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250809012389A), Aug 9, 2025: Beech S35, Lowell, MI, Substantial damage. I was notified of this incident on Monday August 11, 2025, at 1215 EST. I phoned the roc to report this event. Contacted Lowell airport (24C) manager. He…

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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