- Date
- May 31, 2003, 20:00 local (Jun 1, 2003, 03:00 UTC)
- Place
- Inyokern, CA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5FLBeech 35-B33
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 29, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20030531016809A
- Case key
- 57235
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot failed to extend the landing gear.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane sustained substantial damage during a gear up landing. The pilot entered the traffic pattern for the runway in turbulent conditions. He slowed the airplane and entered downwind. After turning from base to final, the airplane touched down and skidded to a stop at the left side of the runway. The pilot thought he had moved the gear handle to the down position; however, it was found in the up position after the accident. He said he was not sure if he simply forgot to lower the gear or accidentally bumped the handle to the up position in the turbulence. No mechanical malfunctions were noted with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On May 31, 2003, at 2000 Pacific daylight time, a Beech 35-B33, N5FL, sustained substantial damage during a gear up landing at Inyokern Airport (IYK), Inyokern, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and three passengers were not injured. The cross-country flight originated from Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO), Reno, Nevada, at 1800. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported that upon entering the Inyokern area, he announced via radio crossing midfield to enter left traffic for runway 20. During the descent to traffic pattern altitude (TPA) it was bumpy. He slowed the airplane to lower the gear (he thought he did) and entered downwind. The flaps were extended while turning from base to final. The airplane touched down and skidded to a stop at the left side of the runway. The pilot was unsure if he inadvertently moved the gear handle up, or didn't put it down, but felt he was responsible for the error either way. The gear handle was found in the up position. No mechanical malfunctions were noted with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5FL
- Reported as
- Beech 35-B33
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- CD-668
- Airframe hours
- 2,040
- Engine
- Continental IO-470 N, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Willard T. Parlet
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 2003 · 22 hours before
- Departed
- KRNO · Reno, NV
- Destination
- KIYK · Inyokern, CA
- Airport
- KIYK · Inyokern, runway 20, 6,275 × 75 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,059 total · 106 in this make and model · 22 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.79 inHg
- Observed at
- KIYK
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.