# NTSB GAA19CA427: Beech 35, N1361Z, Caldwell, NJ, June 26, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 26, 2019, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Caldwell, NJ - Coordinates: 40.875, -74.280555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8750&lon=-74.2806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99868 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA427 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99868/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99868 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA427 ## Probable cause The pilot's distraction while looking for traffic, which led to his failure to extend the landing gear before landing, and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a subsequent go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech N35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=1151528), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/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 N35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1151528), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech N35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151528), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech N35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=1151528), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/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 N35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151528), [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. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Beech N35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1151528), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech N35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1151528), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech N35, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151528), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the air traffic tower controller had cleared him to land behind another airplane and that he was distracted searching for the airplane ahead and did not extend the landing gear. He eventually visually located the traffic and continued the approach. He did not hear the landing gear warning horn. During the landing, a passenger yelled that the landing gear was still up, and the tower controller called for a go-around. The pilot pulled back on the yoke and added power. The airplane aerodynamically stalled, the left wing dropped and impacted the ground, and the airplane came to rest in grass left of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the retractable landing gear airplane reported that, the tower controller had cleared him to land behind another aircraft, and that he was distracted searching for the aircraft ahead and did not extend the landing gear. He eventually visually located the traffic and continued the approach. He did not hear the landing gear warning horn. During the landing, a passenger yelled that the landing gear was still up and the tower controller called for a go around. He pulled back on the yoke and added power. The airplane aerodynamically stalled, the left wing dropped, impacted the ground, and the airplane came to rest in the grass to the left of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1361Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1361Z-2022-06-04), registration cancelled 2022-06-04, S/N D-6781, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 35 (N35) - Registry model: [Beech N35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-n35) (registry code 1151528) (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-6781 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 5389 - Engines: Continental IO-470-N14B 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 18, 2018 - Departed: GED, Georgetown, DE - Destination: CDW, Caldwell, NY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CDW, Essex County, runway 22, 4,552 × 80 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review February 15, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,415 total, 126 in this make and model, 2,241 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KCDW ## 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 20190626008039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190626008039A), Jun 26, 2019: Beech N35, Caldwell, NJ, Substantial damage. Subject aircraft struck the runway with the left wingtip, propeller and the belly of the aircraft during an attempt to land at kcdw. A verbal and written… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 19, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99868. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476108&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476109&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476110&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.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.