Amateur-built 235 accident near Pawhuska, Oklahoma, June 7, 2025
On June 7, 2025 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1993 amateur-built 235, registered N25DB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Pawhuska, Oklahoma (Pawhuska Muni airport). It was a flight test 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 properly configure the airplane for landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2025 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pawhuska, Oklahoma · Pawhuska Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 235, built 1993
- Registration
- N25DB · registry record · serial 83
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he selected the landing gear down before landing, however, the landing gear did not extend. The pilot determined that it was too late to safely execute a go-around, and the airplane subsequently landed on its belly, resulting in substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination revealed that a toggle switch that is used to energize the hydraulic system for the extension of the landing gear was inadvertently left in the OFF position by the pilot.
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 not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › (general) › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 544 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 499 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 7, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 666.3 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 4, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,337 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 674 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IDP Independence KS at 7:22 pm
- Destination: IDP Independence KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KBVO, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBVO 072053Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW049 FEW060 29/19 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP094 T02940194 55005
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 26, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.