Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 401 near Arlington, TX — 2025-05-22

Final reportCEN25LA185
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Date
2025-05-22
Location
Arlington, TX, USA
Airport
GKY
Aircraft
CESSNA 401
Registration
N3239Q
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The failure of the left landing gear system and subsequent intentional gear up landing.

NTSB narrative

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.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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