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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

March 29, 1983 · Beech 35 · N3732N

El Paso, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 29, 1983
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
El Paso, TX
Aircraft
Beech 35
Tail Number
N3732N
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW83LA169

On a flight after an annual inspection, the pilot could not retract the gear using the normal electrical system. It remained extended with the green safe light on and the gear pointer indicating down. He tried to assist the normal system with the manual handcrank, although the pilot handbook did not allow this practice, but to no avail. He then used the handcrank to move the gear to the extended position, but the green light would not reilluminate. The pilot elected to land on the dirt overrun area, but did not see a graded dirt bank short of the overrun. The gear hit the bank and collapsed during the landing. The landing gear circuit breaker was found in the 'popped' position. The normal and emergency gear systems had been checked during the annual inspection. The mechanic said that all breakers were in on the day before the flight. Reportedly, the pilot was unaware of a checklist item to assure all breakers were in before starting the engine. The investigation did not reveal when or why the landing gear circuit breaker got into the popped position.

Full Narrative

ON A FLT AFTER AN ANNUAL INSPN, THE PLT COULD NOT RETRACT THE GEAR, USING THE NORMAL ELECTRICAL SYS. IT REMAINED EXTENDED WITH THE GREEN SAFE LIGHT ON & THE GEAR POINTER INDICATING DOWN. HE TRIED TO ASSIST THE NORMAL SYS WITH THE MANUAL HANDCRANK, ALTHOUGH THE PLT HANDBOOK DID NOT ALLOW THIS PRACTICE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. HE THEN USED THE HANDCRANK TO MOVE THE GEAR TO THE EXTENDED POSITION, BUT THE GREEN LIGHT WOULD NOT REILLUMINATE. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND ON THE DIRT OVERRUN AREA, BUT DID NOT SEE A GRADED DIRT BANK, SHORT OF THE OVERRUN. THE GEAR HIT THE BANK & COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING. THE LANDING GEAR CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS FOUND IN THE 'POPPED' POSITION. THE NORMAL & EMERGENCY GEAR SYS HAD BEEN CHECKED DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT ALL BREAKERS WERE IN ON THE DAY BEFORE THE FLT. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT WAS UNAWARE OF A CHECKLIST ITEM TO ASSURE ALL BREAKERS WERE IN BEFORE STARTING THE ENG. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL WHEN OR WHY THE LANDING GEAR CIRCUIT BREAKER GOT INTO THE POPPED POSITION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:00 CST
Nearest AirportWest Texas (0nm N)
Runway26
Runway Length4100 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 35
Tail NumberN3732N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · E-185-8 · Reciprocating · 196
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 70 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 5 kt, gusting 8 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data