Probable cause
The failure of the left landing gear system and subsequent intentional gear up landing.
NTSB analysis
According to the pilot, the airplane had undergone extensive maintenance and an annual inspection before being flown for the first time in about 25 years. During the third traffic pattern, the “left landing gear broke and necessitated a gear up landing.” The pilot landed the airplane with the landing gear retracted which resulted in substantial damage to the lower fuselage.
According to the pilot, the left landing gear strut over extended and jammed itself into the wheel well. Additionally, he reported that the left main landing gear bell crank was fractured which appeared to have possibly been damaged during a previous gear-up landing in 1998.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN25LA185 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 22, 2025
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Arlington, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Arlington Muni (GKY)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 401
- N-number
- N3239Q
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1967
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Flight test
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.