# NTSB WPR21LA134: Beech G35, N4499D, Tucson, AZ, February 26, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 26, 2021, 12:05 local (19:05 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ · Airport environment - Coordinates: 32.116069, -110.94101 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1161&lon=-110.9410&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102765 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102765/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102765 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA134 ## Probable cause The pilot’s distraction in the cockpit which interrupted his pre-landing checklist which resulted in his failure to configure the landing gear prior to touchdown. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: configuration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech G35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech G35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech G35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech G35, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while in the local traffic pattern, he was distracted by radio transmissions from the tower air traffic controller regarding maintaining his airspeed and multiple landing runway reassignments. His pre-landing check was interrupted, and he did not lower the landing gear, and landed gear up on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the undercarriage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The pilot reported that he was wearing noise-cancelling headsets and did not hear the warning horn. During the airplane recovery, the pilot reported that the throttle was in the retarded position and the warning horn was blaring. The landing gear handle was placed in the “down” position and extended normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4499D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4499D), registered now, S/N D-4724, 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-4724 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 5946.3 - Engines: CONT MOTOR E225-8 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2020, 19.2 hours before - Departed: CMA, Camarillo, CA - Destination: TUS, Tucson, AZ - Airport: TUS, Tucson Intl, runway 11L/29R, 10,996 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review November 11, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10,000 total, 900 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 5 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KTUS, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KTUS 261853Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 16/M15 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP153 T01561150= ## 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 20210226000739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210226000739A), Feb 26, 2021: Beech G35, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. Pilot on approach to tus airport, landed aircraft without putting the gear down making contact with runway 11L with the belly of the aircraft. No regulatory… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102765. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12319597&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Pilot_Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident_Incident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (courtesy of pilot) (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 676 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12320296&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA134%20Photos%20(pilot)-Rel.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.