# NTSB SEA02LA043: Beech G35, N168B, Anacortes, WA, February 26, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 26, 2002, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Anacortes, WA - Coordinates: 48.456665, -122.539169 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4567&lon=-122.5392&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA- Seattle FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54278 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54278/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54278 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA043 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent failure to lower the landing gear prior to touchdown. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was practicing short field landings. On the fourth landing, the pilot stated that he neglected to lower the landing gear, and to check the status of the landing gear. He stated that when the propeller contacted the ground he attemped to lower the landing gear, but it did not have time to extend. The pilot reported no prior mechanical malfunction or failure of the aircraft. ## Factual narrative On February 26, 2002, at 1400 Pacific standard time, a Beech G35 Bonanza, N168B, sustained substantial damage during an inadvertent gear-up landing at Beckers Landing (WN18), a private airstrip near Anacortes, Washington. The airplane is owned by the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal pleasure flight under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight. The flight originated at the accident airstrip approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported that he was practicing short field landings on the 1,700-foot turf runway. He stated that on his fourth landing, "I neglected my routine of raising nose, lowering gear on downwind...neglected my final gear down check." He further stated when the propeller contacted the ground, he attempted to put the landing gear down, but there was not enough time for it to extend. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and nose gear tunnel. A weather observation at Whidbey Naval Air Station (KNUW), 12 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, reported at 1355 Pacific standard time, winds from 330 degrees at 7 knots, and visibility 7 statue miles with a few clouds at 3000 feet. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure on the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form 6120.1/2. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N168B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N168B-2019-01-14), registration cancelled 2019-01-14, S/N D-4453, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech G35 - Registry model: [Beech G35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-g35) (registry code 1151516) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-4453 - Engines: Continental IO-470-N 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 24, 2001, 252.4 hours before - Departed: WN18, Anacortes, WA - Destination: WN18 - Airport: WN18, Beckers Landing Airport, runway 17, 1,700 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 30, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 4,371 total, 2,163 in this make and model, 4,111 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.56 inHg - Observed at: KNUW, 12 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 20020226004149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020226004149A), Feb 26, 2002: Beech G35, Anacortes, WA, No damage. (-23) The pilot was practicing short field landings onto becker field, which is a 1700 foot turf runway. The pilot stated that on the fourth Landing he… ## Other investigations on N168B (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 GAA16CA519](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA519), Sep 16, 2016: Beech G35 (N168B), Kooskia, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear during landing. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54278. 288 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390157&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.