Beech A36TC accident near Kingsford, Michigan, June 14, 2026
On June 14, 2026 at about 4:39 pm local time, a 1980 Beech A36TC, registered N3701N, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Kingsford, Michigan (Ford 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pin on the nose gear brace assembly that engages with the cam on the nose landing gear door actuator shaft was not seated inside the cam, which rendered the nose landing gear inoperative.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2026 · about 4:39 pm local time
- Place
- Kingsford, Michigan · Ford Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36TC, built 1980 · all A36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N3701N · registry record · serial EA-141
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that upon entering the traffic pattern, he lowered the landing gear. He heard a loud “bang,” and only the main landing gear position indicator lights illuminated. The pilot contacted a friend on the ground to confirm if all three landing gear were down. The friend reported that the main landing gear were down. However, the nose gear was not down, and the nose gear door was closed. The pilot departed the traffic pattern and went through the emergency gear extension procedure. The nose landing gear position indicator light would still not illuminate. The pilot made the decision to perform a gear-up landing. The panels on the belly of the airplane were substantially damaged. A postaccident examination revealed that the pin on the nose gear brace assembly that engages with the cam on the nose landing gear door actuator shaft was not seated inside the cam, which rendered the nose landing gear inoperative. According to the airframe manufacturer, the pin is only in the slot when the landing gear door is retracted. The pin can disengage from the cam if there is a rigging issue and the rods for the door actuator are adjusted incorrectly or if the door actuator operating spring breaks. The mechanic who performed the last annual inspection reported that he utilized the approved airframe manufacturer maintenance manual for gear inspection and testing. According to the mechanic, the landing gear and gear door rigging were all within tolerance of the tensions and clearances called out in the maintenance manual, so no adjustments were made. He also confirmed that he examined the door actuator operating spring postaccident, and it was not broken.
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 defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear door actuator › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,320 hours in all; 943 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 7, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,708 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO520 (piston); 1,752 hours total
- Operator: Great Lakes Aero Marine LLC
The flight
- Departed from: SAW Marquette MI at 1:22 pm
- Destination: FLD Fond Du Lac WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 01, 6,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,300 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from KIMT
Weather report (METAR): KIMT 141654Z AUTO 33015KT 10SM SCT035 BKN043 OVC050 15/07 A2983
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA226.