# NTSB CEN26LA028: Beech A36, N17826, Hondo, TX, October 22, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 22, 2025, 16:35 local (21:35 UTC) - Place: Hondo, TX - Coordinates: 29.359131, -99.177492 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3591&lon=-99.1775&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 January 15, 2026 - 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): 201914 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201914/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201914 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA028 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing due to distraction and his failure to conduct the Before Landing checklist. ## 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: [Beech A36, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=1151604), [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: [Beech A36, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/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 A36, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1151604), [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 A36, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was inbound to the airport when he heard that another airplane was also approaching the airport. The pilot of the other airplane intended to enter the downwind for the same runway, so the pilot opted to do a straight in final approach. When the pilot initially intended to lower the landing gear, he realized the airplane was too fast, so he did not lower the landing gear at that time. Then, he heard the pilot of the other airplane make a radio call and he became distracted looking for the other airplane. As he approached the runway, he heard a horn, but he assumed it was the stall warning horn. He stated that he was not worried about the warning horn because the airplane was already positioned to land on the runway. The airplane then landed with the landing gear retracted. The lower fuselage structure was substantially damaged during the wheels-up landing. After the landing, the pilot realized the horn he heard was the landing gear warning horn and not the stall warning horn. He also said that he erroneously thought he lowered the gear down lever before landing, but it was the flap lever that he manipulated instead. The pilot acknowledged that he should have reviewed the Before Landing checklist before he entered the traffic pattern. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17826](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17826), registered now, S/N E-1036, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-1036 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 6648 - Engines: Continental IO-550B-AP 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Three Six Bonita LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 2025 - Departed: GTU, Georgetown, TX - Destination: HDO, Hondo, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: HDO, South Texas Regional Airport, runway 17L, 6,002 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 23, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 524 total, 181 in this make and model, 477 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KHDO - METAR: KHDO 222151Z AUTO 20006KT 10SM FEW065 32/15 A3002 ## 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 20251022016679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251022016679A), Oct 22, 2025: Beech A36, Hondo, TX, Substantial damage. October 22, 2025 at approximately 14:30 CST local time I arrived at hanger at kgtu G-7 to fly bonanza. The plan for the day was to leave kgtu at 15:00CST… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201914. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19679283&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 798 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19679953&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photos-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. --- 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.