# NTSB WPR24LA086: Beech A35, N691B, Maricopa, AZ, February 11, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 11, 2024, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Maricopa, AZ - Coordinates: 32.991834, -111.91748 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9918&lon=-111.9175&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 193781 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193781/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193781 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA086 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to properly configure the landing gear and verify its position before landing, which resulted in a gear-up landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Beech A35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=1151504), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=1151504), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151504), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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 A35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1151504), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that she put the landing gear switch in the down position when the airplane was midfield on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and lowered the flaps on the base turn. The pilot also stated that she did not look at the gear position indicator before landing. Security video captured the airplane on short final, and the landing gear appeared to be in the retracted position. The airplane subsequently landed gear-up, substantially damaging the fuselage. Following the accident, the landing gear switch was found in the down position, and the main landing gear doors were partially extended, with the inboard edges of the doors contacting the ground. Postaccident examination revealed no damage to the left main landing gear door, scraping damage to the extended ridge on the right main landing gear door, and scraping damage to the aft and outboard edges of the nose gear doors. The observed damage was consistent with all the landing gear being fully retracted upon landing. An operational check of the landing gear system revealed no anomalies. The accident is consistent with the pilot’s failure to configure the landing gear and to verify its position before landing. ## Factual narrative On February 11, 2024, at 1030 mountain standard time, a Beech A35, N619B, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Maricopa, Arizona. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that she had just taken off and planned to remain in the traffic pattern. She stated that she put the landing gear switch in the down position when the airplane was midfield and lowered the flaps during the base turn. The pilot stated that she did not look at the gear position indicator before landing. Security video captured the airplane on final approach, and the landing gear appeared to be retracted. The airplane landed with the gear up, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Following the accident, the landing gear switch was observed in the down position, and both main landing gear doors were partially extended where the airplane came to rest. The nose gear doors were not visible. Recovery personnel hoisted the airplane and left the landing gear switch in the down position. Upon activating the master switch, the landing gear began to lower. The nose gear doors initially did not open due to damage. The nose gear doors were pried open and all three landing gear then lowered under aircraft power. Recovery personnel stated that the nose gear drag brace was damaged during the initial attempts to lower the gear during recovery. Examination of the underside of the airplane revealed scraping and impact damage to the skin and stringers of the underbelly from the nose gear doors aft to near the trailing edge of the wings. Scraping damage to the nose gear doors was concentrated near the outboard and aft edges, with scratch marks angled predominantly 45° from the centerline of the airplane and the normal direction of forward travel. The right main landing gear door sustained scraping damage to the protruding ridge on the gear door; there was no visible damage to the left main landing gear door. The airplane was suspended using a crane and lifting straps. The landing gear switch in the cockpit was observed in the down position. The master power switch was turned on and the landing gear switch was placed in the up position. The gear drive motor was heard activating, and all three landing gear began to retract. The retraction halted about midway due to insufficient airplane battery power, so the landing gear switch was placed in the down position. The gear motor operated, and the landing gear fully extended. An auxiliary battery power unit was connected to the airplane’s battery. The master power switch was turned on again, and the landing gear switch was placed in the up position. The three landing gear retracted until the nose gear wheel contacted the forward lifting strap, which prevented full retraction of the nose gear. The landing gear switch was placed in the down position, and all three landing gear extended fully. Thelanding gear were raised and lowered two additional times with the same results. No anomalies were noted with the landing gear system during the operational checks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N691B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N691B-2024-12-28), registration cancelled 2024-12-28, S/N D-1694 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A35 - Registry model: [Beech A35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a35) (registry code 1151504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-1694 - Year built: 1949 - Airframe hours: 7540 - Engines: Continental E225-8 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 4, 2023, 863 hours before - Departed: KCHD, Chandler, AZ - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: A39, Ak-Chin Rgnl, runway 04/22, 4,751 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 356 total, 101 in this make and model, 206 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KCGZ, 8 nm away - METAR: KCGZ 111756Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 08/04 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP234 6//// T00830039 10083 20011 53013 PNO $ ## 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 20240211000629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240211000629A), Feb 11, 2024: Beech A35, Maricopa, AZ, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed kchd (chandler municipal airport) at approximately 9:55 am MST, Sunday 2/11/2024 from runway 4L. Normal climb out, wheels up, and right turn… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 26, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193781. 58.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16746365&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation with recovery personnel (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16769709&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR_Conversation%20with%20Recovery%20Personnel-Rel.pdf - Wreckage and landing gear examination report (item 3, PDF, 10 pages, 7 photos, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16774921&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Landing%20Gear%20Examination%20Report-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 9 pages, 8 photos, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16749748&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA086%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Security video (item 5, MOV, 48.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16769331&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_1953-Rel.MOV 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.