# NTSB ERA25LA205: Beech P35, N2840R, Houserville, PA, May 13, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 13, 2025, 12:58 local (16:58 UTC) - Place: Houserville, PA - Coordinates: 40.85, -77.847583 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8500&lon=-77.8476&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 November 6, 2025 - 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): 200185 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200185/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200185 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA205 ## 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: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech P35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=1151530), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/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 P35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1151530), [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: [Beech P35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1151530), [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: [Beech P35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1151530), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The purpose of the flight was to conduct two cross-country instrument flight rules practice flights between two airports. After departure, the pilot reported that he entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) shortly after takeoff and remained in IMC until he was near his destination airport. The pilot stated that he “messed up” his first approach, and he performed a missed approach. After maneuvering for his second approach, the pilot established the airplane for his second attempt; however, the pilot reported that he was “task-saturated” and that he “neglected to lower the landing gear.” While continuing the approach, the pilot described that he developed “tunnel vision” and did not verify that the landing gear was down. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane on the runway with the landing gear still retracted resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed that the landing gear position handle was in the up position and that the landing gear operated normally when extended. The landing gear position warning horn was not functional. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2840R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2840R), registered now, S/N D-7221, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH P35 - Registry model: [Beech P35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-p35) (registry code 1151530) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-7221 - Year built: 1963 - Engines: Continental Aerospace Technologies IO-470-N 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: ABE, Allentown, PA - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: UNV, State College Rgnl, runway 06/24, 6,701 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 25, 2024; seat: left; flight hours: 3,755 total, 1,890 in this make and model, 3,613 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 8 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: UNV - METAR: METAR KUNV 131653Z 11008G14KT 6SM -RA BR BKN010 BKN020 OVC034 18/18 A3007= ## 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 20250513007559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250513007559A), May 13, 2025: Beech P35, State College, PA, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed allentown airport (kabe) on a IFR flight to University Park Airport (kunv). The weather was IFR and IMC conditions were present at the time… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200185. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 665 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19152554&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB_Form_6120.1-completed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19152998&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Mor - FAA statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19153316&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 714 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19153184&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%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. --- 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.