North American B25 accident near Encinal, Texas, March 26, 2011
On March 26, 2011 at about 6:00 pm local time, a North American B25, registered N747AF, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Encinal, Texas (El Jardin Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The co-pilot’s premature retraction of the landing gear during takeoff, which resulted in a gear collapse and impact with the runway surface.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2011 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Encinal, Texas · El Jardin Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American B25 J · all B25s on the register
- Registration
- N747AF · registry record · serial 44-30456
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff
- Landing gear collapse during takeoff defining event
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
- Evacuation during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Copilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › (general) › Copilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,700 hours in all; 400 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 24, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,596 hours in all; 24 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 30, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,460 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 7, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 34,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Wright R-2600-35 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Wright R-2600-35 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Lewis Fighter Fleet LLC
The flight
- Departed from: XA66 Encinal TX at 6:00 pm
- Destination: XA66 Encinal TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 6,270 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KCOT, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.