Beech A36 accident near Farmington, New Mexico, January 18, 2009
On January 18, 2009 at about 1:58 am local time, a Beech A36, registered N8074P, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Farmington, New Mexico (Four Corners Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Collapse of the landing gear during landing due to the incorrect installation of the landing gear actuator. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to initiate the abnormal procedures checklist prior to landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 2009 · about 1:58 am local time
- Place
- Farmington, New Mexico · Four Corners Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N8074P · no longer on the register · serial E-2733
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On the sixth touch-and-go of the flight, the private pilot did not receive the proper safe landing gear indications. During a low approach, the tower controller observed three landing gear extended. Satisfied with the visual inspection of the landing gear, the pilot did not initiate the abnormal procedures checklist and performed a landing. During the landing, the left main landing gear collapsed causing the airplane to go off of the side of the runway. The airplane came to a stop and the pilot egressed normally. An inspection revealed that a left main landing gear retraction rod was installed incorrectly several days prior to the accident flight. During the flight, the landing gear transmission/motor limit switch was damaged and rendered inoperative.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear actuator › Incorrect service/maintenance
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 107 hours in all; 107 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 12, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19,200 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, December 4, 2008; 72.7 hours since
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FMN Farmington NM at 1:50 am
- Destination: FMN Farmington NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 6,704 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.42 inHg
- Observation at 2:04 am from FMN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.