Accident Details
On February 11, 2024, at 1030 mountain standard time, a Beech A35, registration N619B, was substantially damaged during a landing accident near Maricopa, Arizona. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
The pilot reported that after takeoff, she planned to remain in the traffic pattern. She stated that she placed the landing gear switch in the down position when the airplane was midfield and lowered the flaps during the base turn. The pilot indicated that she did not check the gear position indicator before landing. Security video captured the airplane on final approach showing the landing gear appeared retracted. The airplane landed with the gear up, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage.
Post-Accident Examination
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 with the landing gear switch still in the down position. When the master switch was activated, the landing gear began to lower. The nose gear doors initially did not open due to damage; they were pried open, and all three landing gear then extended under aircraft power. Recovery personnel stated that the nose gear drag brace was damaged during initial attempts to lower the gear during recovery.
Examination of the underside revealed scraping and impact damage to the skin and stringers from the nose gear doors aft to near the trailing edge of the wings. Scraping on the nose gear doors was concentrated near outboard and aft edges, with scratch marks angled predominantly 45° from the centerline. The right main landing gear door had scraping damage on a protruding ridge; the left main door showed no visible damage.
Landing Gear Operational Check
The airplane was suspended using a crane and lifting straps. With the landing gear switch in the down position, the master power was turned on and the switch placed in the up position. The gear drive motor activated, and all three landing gear began to retract. Retraction halted about midway due to insufficient battery power; the switch was returned to down, and the gear fully extended. An auxiliary battery was connected. Again with master power on, the switch was placed up; the gear retracted until the nose wheel contacted a forward lifting strap, preventing full retraction. The switch was placed down, and all gear extended fully. This cycle was repeated two more times with the same results. No anomalies were noted with the landing gear system during these operational checks.