Pilot Debrief

NORTH AMERICAN B25 near Encinal, TX — 2011-03-26

Final reportCEN11LA254
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Date
2011-03-26
Location
Encinal, TX, USA
Airport
XA66
Aircraft
NORTH AMERICAN B25
Registration
N747AF
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The co-pilot’s premature retraction of the landing gear during takeoff, which resulted in a gear collapse and impact with the runway surface.

NTSB narrative

During the takeoff roll, at an airspeed of about 60 knots, the pilot rotated the nose of the airplane to the standard angle for takeoff. The co-pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, he thought that the pilot had called for the landing gear to be retracted, so he reached down and moved the landing gear handle. Shortly thereafter the landing gear began to collapse and both propellers and the fuselage impacted the runway surface. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident and the co-pilot said that he prematurely raised the gear handle.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Co-pilot should not have raised the landing gear during takeoff roll.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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