Probable cause
The failure of the left main landing gear to extend, which resulted in a gear-up landing. The reason for the left main landing gear’s failure to operate normally could not be determined because postincident examination of the landing gear system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that, after taking off and retracting the landing gear, he noticed that the landing gear lights did not indicate a normal landing gear retraction. The pilot extended the landing gear and then flew by a nearby helicopter, and the helicopter pilot informed him that the right main landing gear was extended but that the left main landing gear was not extended. The pilot's attempts to troubleshoot the problem were unsuccessful, so he chose to return to the airport. After burning off fuel, the pilot made an uneventful gear-up landing. The reason for the left main landing gear's failure to operate normally could not be determined during postincident examination.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR15IA035 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 23, 2014
- Type
- Incident
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona
- Nearest airport
- Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
North American P51 - D
- N-number
- N351BD
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1944
- Damage
- Minor
- 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.