# NTSB LAX05LA178: Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A, N333WF, Blythe, CA, March 12, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 11, 2005, 17:20 local (Mar 12, 2005, 01:20 UTC) - Place: Blythe, CA - Coordinates: 33.618888, -114.716941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6189&lon=-114.7169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61552 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61552/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA178 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to lower the landing gear prior to landing. A factor to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention due to the flap system anomaly. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot failed to lower the landing gear prior to touching down on the runway. The pilot said that during the approach into the airport, the flaps would not lock into the 20-degree extended position. The pilot decided to execute a no-flap landing and referred to the emergency checklist. The checklist advised the pilot to extend the landing gear; however, the pilot skimmed over the information thinking that the gear was already down and locked, and focused on the stabilized approach into the airport. The airplane touched down with the gear in the retracted position. No mechanical malfunctions were noted with the landing gear system on the airplane and a ground test run of the flaps did not reproduce the failure encountered during flight. ## Factual narrative On March 11, 2005, at 1720 Pacific standard time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A, N333WF, landed with the landing gear retracted at the Blythe Airport, Blythe, California. Jaax Flying Service, Inc., was operating the privately registered airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi flight. The airline transport pilot and three passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan had been filed and activated. The pilot departed Banning Municipal Airport, Banning, California, about 1645. In the pilot's written statement, he stated that during his approach into Blythe, the flaps were extended to 20 degrees but would not lock into position. The pilot decided to perform a no flap landing and referred to the emergency checklist. The checklist advised the pilot to extend the landing gear; however, the pilot skimmed over the information thinking that the gear was already down and locked, and focused on the stabilized approach into the airport. The airplane touched down with the gear in the retracted position. According to the operator, the purpose of the first portion of the flight from Blythe to Banning was to transport a prisoner. On the return leg with one correctional officer and two nurses onboard, the pilot forgot to lower the landing gear prior to landing on runway 8. The damage to the airplane included internal rib damage near the belly of the airplane. No mechanical problems with the landing gear system were noted, and a ground test run of the flaps did not reproduce the flap locking failure encountered in flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N333WF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N333WF-2007-03-16), registration cancelled 2007-03-16, S/N 387 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A - Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-26a) (registry code 5780414) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 387SA - Engines: Garrett TPE 331 665 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Jaax Flying Service, Inc. - Registered owner: Solitaire Investments - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BNG, Banning, CA - Destination: BLH, Blythe, CA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: BLH, Blythe, runway 8, 6,562 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 3,900 total, 942 in this make and model, 87 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 15 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: PSP, 70 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 20050311004119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050311004119A), Mar 11, 2005: Mtsbsi MU2B26A, Blythe, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) While landing at Blythe, CA pilot was on FAR 135 revenue flight, landed gear up. During the approach the pilot experienced flap problems and was… 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.