# NTSB FTW98LA389: Cessna 401, N3239Q, Lancaster, TX, September 4, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 4, 1998, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, TX - Coordinates: 32.619304, -96.779388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6193&lon=-96.7794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43890 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA389 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43890/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA389 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent retraction of the landing gear while intending to retract the flaps. A factor was the pilots lack of total experience in the type of aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear retraction on ground, takeoff - roll/run - gear retraction - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was in the local landing pattern doing touch and go landings. After touchdown during the third landing, he added power for takeoff and intended to 'raise' the 'flap' lever. He inadvertently raised the landing gear lever. Subsequently, the right main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft skidded off the runway. The pilot had been flying a Beech Bonanza previously, and the landing gear lever on the Cessna 401 is located where the flap lever is on the Bonanza. He had a total of 697 hours of flight time, 676 of which were flown in the Bonanza, and a total of 16 hours in the Cessna 401. In the last 90 days prior to the accident he had a total of 2 hours of flight time, which were flown in the Bonanza. ## Factual narrative On September 4, 1998, approximately 1830 central daylight time, a Cessna 401 twin engine airplane, N3239Q, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it skidded off the runway during takeoff from Lancaster Municipal Airport, Lancaster, Texas. All 3 occupants, the commercial pilot and 2 passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he was in the local landing pattern doing touch and go landings. He stated that the accident occurred during the third touch and go. After touchdown, he added power for takeoff and intended to "raise" the "flap" lever. He stated that he "actually" raised the landing gear lever. Subsequently, the right main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft skidded off the paved runway onto grass. An FAA inspector reported that he found both sides of the aft cabin bulkhead buckled during post accident examination. The pilot added that he had been previously flying a Beech Bonanza, and that the landing gear lever on the Cessna 401 is located where the flap lever is on the Bonanza. He had a total of 697 hours of flight time, 676 of which were flown in the Bonanza, and a total of 16 hours in the Cessna 401. In the last 90 days prior to the accident, he had a total of 2 hours of flight time, which were flown in the Bonanza. The pilot suggested in the Safety Recommendation Section of NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that the locations of landing gear and flap levers should be standardized in all aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3239Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3239Q), registered now, S/N 401-0039, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 401 - Registry model: [Cessna 401](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-401) (registry code 207590C) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0039 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-E reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: R. E. Turner & W. E. Russell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LNC - Airport: LNC, Lancaster Municipal, runway 13, 4,999 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 697 total, 16 in this make and model, 635 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 106 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RBD, 10 nm away ## 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 19980904047199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980904047199A), Sep 4, 1998: Cessna 401, Lancaster, TX, Substantial damage. (.4) On September 4, 1998, approximately 1830 central daylight time, a Cessna 401 twin engine airplane, N3239Q, owned and operated by the pilot, was… ## Other investigations on N3239Q (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN25LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA185), May 22, 2025: Cessna 401 (N3239Q), Arlington, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the left landing gear system and subsequent intentional gear up landing. 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.