# NTSB WPR13CA422: Beech 35 - Undesignat, N5894S, Seattle, WA, September 21, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 21, 2013, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Seattle, WA - Coordinates: 47.540828, -122.310989 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5408&lon=-122.3110&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 19, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88121 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA422 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88121/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88121 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA422 ## Probable cause The pilot's distracted attention and failure to extend the landing gear, which resulted in a gear up landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech S35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: configuration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech S35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech S35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech S35, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was instructed by air traffic control to enter a right downwind following a corporate jet that was on final approach, and he was warned about wake turbulence. The pilot further stated that as he observed the jet pass by, he turned to watch it land so he could land beyond its touchdown point. The pilot revealed that in doing so, this interrupted him from completing his landing checklist and he failed to extend the landing gear. The airplane subsequently landed gear up which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was instructed by air traffic control to enter a right downwind following a [corporate] jet that was on final approach, and he was warned about wake turbulence. The pilot further stated that as he observed the jet pass by, he turned to watch it land so he could land beyond its touchdown point. The pilot revealed that in doing so, this interrupted him from completing his landing checklist and he failed to extend the landing gear. The airplane subsequently landed gear up which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5894S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5894S), registered now, S/N D-7765, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 35 - UNDESIGNAT (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-7765 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 5262 - Engines: Continental IO-550 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 11, 2012, 96 hours before - Departed: PWT, Bremerton, WA - Destination: BFI, Seattle, WA - Airport: BFI, Boeing Field/King County Intl, runway 13R, 10,000 × 200 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 907 total, 273 in this make and model, 846 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Observed at: BFI ## 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 20130921017829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130921017829A), Sep 21, 2013: Beech S35, Seattle, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated: "he was worried about the wake turblance from the gulfstreem and forgot to put the gear down." ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 18, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88121. 930 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 663 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401933&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Data (item 2, .PDF, 267 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401934&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-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.