Casualties unknown

Landing Gear Not Extended During Touchdown (N333WF)

Blythe, CA, US

On March 12, 2005, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A (registration N333WF) operated by Jaax Flying Service, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Blythe, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to lower the landing gear prior to landing. A factor to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention due to the flap system anomaly. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot landed with the landing gear retracted after encountering a flap issue and inadvertently skipping the gear extension step during a no-flap landing. No mechanical malfunctions were found.

Incident Overview

During an approach, the pilot reported that the flaps would not lock into the 20-degree extended position. The pilot subsequently opted to perform a no-flap landing and referred to the emergency checklist.

Checklist Misstep

The emergency checklist advised the pilot to extend the landing gear, but the pilot skimmed over that information, assuming the gear was already down and locked. The pilot instead focused on maintaining a stabilized approach.

Touchdown and Outcome

The airplane touched down on the runway with the landing gear in the retracted position. Post-incident inspection revealed no mechanical malfunctions with the landing gear system.

Flap System Examination

A ground test run of the flaps did not reproduce the locking failure encountered during the flight. The exact cause of the flap anomaly could not be determined from the available evidence.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20050525X00670. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.