# NTSB CEN26LA226: Beech A36TC, N3701N, Kingsford, MI, June 14, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 14, 2026, 11:39 local (16:39 UTC) - Place: Kingsford, MI - Coordinates: 45.816804, -88.113931 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8168&lon=-88.1139&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 September 17, 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): 203185 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA226 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203185/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203185 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA226 ## Probable cause The pin on the nose gear brace assembly that engages with the cam on the nose landing gear door actuator shaft was not seated inside the cam, which rendered the nose landing gear inoperative. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear door actuator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023232): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023232/cases.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023232/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: [Beech A36TC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that upon entering the traffic pattern, he lowered the landing gear. He heard a loud “bang,” and only the main landing gear position indicator lights illuminated. The pilot contacted a friend on the ground to confirm if all three landing gear were down. The friend reported that the main landing gear were down. However, the nose gear was not down, and the nose gear door was closed. The pilot departed the traffic pattern and went through the emergency gear extension procedure. The nose landing gear position indicator light would still not illuminate. The pilot made the decision to perform a gear-up landing. The panels on the belly of the airplane were substantially damaged. A postaccident examination revealed that the pin on the nose gear brace assembly that engages with the cam on the nose landing gear door actuator shaft was not seated inside the cam, which rendered the nose landing gear inoperative. According to the airframe manufacturer, the pin is only in the slot when the landing gear door is retracted. The pin can disengage from the cam if there is a rigging issue and the rods for the door actuator are adjusted incorrectly or if the door actuator operating spring breaks. The mechanic who performed the last annual inspection reported that he utilized the approved airframe manufacturer maintenance manual for gear inspection and testing. According to the mechanic, the landing gear and gear door rigging were all within tolerance of the tensions and clearances called out in the maintenance manual, so no adjustments were made. He also confirmed that he examined the door actuator operating spring postaccident, and it was not broken. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3701N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3701N), registered now, S/N EA-141, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36TC - Registry model: [Beech A36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (registry code 1151603) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: EA-141 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 4708 - Engines: Continental IO520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Great Lakes Aero Marine LLC - Registered owner: Great Lakes Aero Marine LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 2026 - Departed: SAW, Marquette, MI - Destination: FLD, Fond Du Lac, WI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: IMT, Ford Airport, runway 01, 6,501 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 7, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,320 total, 943 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.83 inHg - Observed at: KIMT - METAR: KIMT 141654Z AUTO 33015KT 10SM SCT035 BKN043 OVC050 15/07 A2983 ## 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 20260614009019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260614009019A), Jun 14, 2026: Beech A36TC, Iron Mountian, MI, Substantial damage. The grand rapids FSDO received a report on 06/14/2026 @1640Z from the regional operations center about an aircraft that made an emergency gear up landing at… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203185. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20778786&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N3701N%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 822 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20778393&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photos-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 879 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20866283&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, mechanic (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20867667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mechanic%20MOR_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Certification of party representative (item 5, PDF, 9 pages, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20866257&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form%20(Fillable)_Redacted-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.