Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that while flying in the traffic pattern at the destination airport, he diverted his attention outside of the airplane and forgot to extend the landing gear. He did not recall hearing the landing gear warning horn during the landing. The airplane landed with the landing gear retracted and came to rest upright on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom of the fuselage near the nose gear wheel well. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN25LA319 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 9, 2025
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Lowell, Michigan
- Nearest airport
- Lowell City (24C)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Beech S35
- N-number
- N861T
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1964
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
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.