# NTSB LAX97LA263: Beech V35B, N1834Z, Pacoima, CA, July 28, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 28, 1997, 09:04 local (16:04 UTC)
- Place: Pacoima, CA
- Coordinates: 34.250099, -118.410659 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2501&lon=-118.4107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 10, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29854
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA263
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29854/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA263

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was lowered before touchdown.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - checklist - not verified, pilot in command (cause)
  - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he had been cleared by the tower for closed traffic.  After reporting downwind abeam the tower he prepared the aircraft for landing, and said he firmly believed that he had completed the GUMP check.  He turned base to final, set up his approach speed, and landed gear up.  The pilot stated in an interview that he forgot to lower the gear.  The aircraft was inspected and no pre-existing anomalies were noted.

## Factual narrative

On July 28, 1997, at 0904 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech V35B, N1834Z, landed gear up on runway 12 at the Whiteman Airpark, Pacoima, California.  The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the pilot/owner was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions existed for the local personal flight, and no flight plan was filed.  The flight originated at 0900.

The pilot reported that he had been cleared by the tower for closed traffic, and to report his position downwind abeam the tower.  The pilot stated that he "firmly" believed he had completed the "GUMP" check.  He stated that he turned base to final, set up his approach speed, and then landed gear up.

In an interview with an Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot reported that he "forgot to lower the gear."  The aircraft was inspected and no pre-existing anomalies were noted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1834Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Beech V35B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 10380
- Airframe hours: 2279
- Engines: Continental IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donald V. Mcshane
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1996, 65 hours before
- Departed: WHP
- Airport: WHP, Whiteman, runway 12, 4,120 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,849 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 1,849 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: WHP

## 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 19970728023659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970728023659A), Jul 28, 1997: Beech V35B, Los Angeles, CA, Substantial damage. Overlooked checking gear down. Landed gear up.

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.