Beech 35 33 accident near Mt. Vernon, Illinois, July 5, 2014
On July 5, 2014 at about 6:25 pm local time, a 1959 Beech 35 33, registered N891R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Mt. Vernon, Illinois (Mount Vernon 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
The pilot's failure to ensure the landing gear was extended into the fully locked position.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2014 · about 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- Mt. Vernon, Illinois · Mount Vernon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 33 NO SERIES, built 1959 · all 35 33s on the register
- Registration
- N891R · registry record · serial CD-15
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he experienced an electrical failure while enroute to his destination. As he approached the airport and lowered the landing gear switch handle, he heard the landing gear lower and felt the airplane slow down. He received the normal indications the landing gear was down and visually confirmed it using the mirror on the left wing. The pilot reported he used the manual crank to ensure the gear was in the locked position. As the airplane touched down, the right landing gear and nose gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. A FAA inspector's examination of the airplane's electrical system showed system reliability.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Expectation/assumption › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 800 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 12, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 3,003 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor I0-470 SERIES (piston); 500 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MHK Manhattan KS at 3:45 pm
- Destination: MVN Mt. Vernon IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from KMVN
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.