No fatalities

Landing Gear Retraction During Takeoff Roll Leads to Ground Impact

Englewood, CO, United States

On May 19, 2009, a BEECH C35 operated by SCHETGEN JEFF E was involved in an aviation accident near Englewood, CO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Incorrect wiring of the landing gear squat switch by the mechanic, resulting in a retraction of the landing gear once the landing strut was extended. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

During takeoff, the main landing gear partially retracted and the nose gear collapsed, causing the left wing to strike the ground. The pilot and mechanic exited unassisted. Investigation found a mechanic incorrectly wired the squat switch.

Accident Overview

During the takeoff roll, the airplane's main landing gear partially retracted and the nose landing gear collapsed completely. As a result, the airplane's left wing impacted the ground, causing structural damage. The airplane came to rest in an upright position on the runway. Both the pilot and the airplane's mechanic were able to exit the airplane unassisted.

Post-Accident Examination

Following the accident, an examination of the landing gear revealed that the mechanic had wired the landing gear squat switch incorrectly. This wiring error resulted in a retraction of the landing gear once the landing strut was extended.

Findings

The investigation identified that the incorrect wiring of the landing gear squat switch by the mechanic led to the untimely retraction of the landing gear during the takeoff roll. No other causal factors were identified.

Probable cause

Incorrect wiring of the landing gear squat switch by the mechanic, resulting in a retraction of the landing gear once the landing strut was extended.

Contributing factors

Maintenance personnelIncorrect service/maintenance