# NTSB ERA23LA166: Beech C35, N8702, Cleveland, TN, March 16, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 16, 2023, 17:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Cleveland, TN - Coordinates: 35.212336, -84.799199 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2123&lon=-84.7992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - 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: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106965 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106965/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106965 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA166 ## Probable cause The retraction of the landing gear after landing for unknown reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1151508), [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. - [Taxi-from runway: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech C35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1151508), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that shortly after he exited the runway after landing, the nose landing gear collapsed. According to his written statement, “neither the flaps had been retracted yet or a command given to retract the landing gear.” He immediately shut off the mixture to the engine, took photos of the cockpit controls, and exited the airplane. Examination of the accident site and wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the flaps were in the down position, the nose landing gear was fully retracted, the left main landing gear was about 80% retracted, and the right main landing gear was about 50% retracted. A visual examination of the taxiway revealed a 25 ft ground scar. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8702](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8702), registered now, S/N D-3245, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH C35 - Registry model: [Beech C35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c35) (registry code 1151508) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-3245 - Year built: 1951 - Airframe hours: 3821 - Engines: Continental E225-8 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 25, 2022 - Departed: 2A0, Dayton, TN - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: RZR, Cleveland Regional Jetport - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 10, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5,277 total, 278 in this make and model, 5,004 as pilot in command, 127 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 13 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: CHA, 22 nm away - METAR: KCHA 161853Z 14013G19KT 10SM SCT180 BKN250 19/M04 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP189 T01891039 ## 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 20230316002349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230316002349A), Mar 16, 2023: Beech C35, Cleveland, TN, Substantial damage. A single engine, reciprocating aircraft made a successful landing during VMC conditions. After turning off the runway onto the taxiway, the retractable landing… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106965. 10.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15321461&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 16 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15320854&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N8702%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 10 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15320574&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA166%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Landing gear exam (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15332168&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Gear%20Exam%20Summary_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.