Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing, which resulted in a propeller strike, followed by an aborted landing and a subsequent hard, precautionary landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot in the retractable-landing-gear-equipped airplane reported that, during the approach, he was distracted by people that were on the runway and believed he "neglected to lower the landing gear." He added that, during landing, he thought that the propeller contacted turf, and he aborted the landing. The airplane gained altitude, and he turned right, but the airspeed did not increase like he felt that it should. Rather than continue the flight over rising terrain, he extended the landing gear and landed in a field, but the airplane landed hard.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings.
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 GAA18CA361 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 17, 2018
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Lakeview, Arkansas
- Nearest airport
- Gastons (3M0)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Raytheon Aircraft Company A36
- N-number
- N174DM
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1996
- 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.