# NTSB ERA26LA117: Beech V35, N35KA, Gulf Shores, AL, February 17, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 17, 2026, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Gulf Shores, AL - Coordinates: 30.290313, -87.671157 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2903&lon=-87.6712&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 17, 2026 - 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): 202457 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202457/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202457 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA117 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to establish a positive rate of climb before retracting the landing gear, which resulted in abnormal runway contact during the takeoff roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear selector](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/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 V35B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the takeoff he inadvertently retracted the landing gear prior to establishing a positive rate of climb. The pilot initially tried to continue the takeoff, and the airplane briefly became airborne before he then elected to reject the takeoff and land on the remaining runway. The airplane came to rest on its on the underside of the fuselage with the landing gear retracted, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N35KA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N35KA), registered now, S/N D-10231, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH V35 (B) - Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (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-10231 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 6658 - Engines: Continental IO-550-B5F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 11, 2025, 9 hours before - Destination: SRC, Searcy, AR - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JKA, Gulf Shores International Airport/Jack Edwards Field, runway 09, 6,962 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 21, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,195 total, 719 in this make and model, 3,195 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: JKA - METAR: METAR KJKA 171755Z 08013KT 10SM FEW015 BKN038 20/15 A3014 ## 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 20260217000819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260217000819A), Feb 17, 2026: Beech V35B, Gulf Shores, AL, Substantial damage. Pilot began the takeoff roll with approximately 15 degrees flaps, and as the aircraft reached the appropriate rotation speed, the pilot initiated the gear up… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202457. 9.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20211860&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20367350&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR_Pilot%20Email-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 958 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20212177&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Excerpt from tower video of accident takeoff (MP4; 32 seconds; 3MB) (item 4, MP4, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20212187&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=N35KA%20Video%20Excerpt-Rel.mp4 - Weather reports and records (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20367069&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=METAR-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.