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Accidents · NTSB ERA25LA205 · Final report

Beech P35 accident near Houserville, Pennsylvania, May 13, 2025

On May 13, 2025 at about 4:58 pm local time, a 1963 Beech P35, registered N2840R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Houserville, Pennsylvania (State College Rgnl 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
May 13, 2025 · about 4:58 pm local time
Place
Houserville, Pennsylvania · State College Rgnl · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
Aircraft
Beech P35, built 1963 · all P35s on the register
Registration
N2840R · registry record · serial D-7221
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The purpose of the flight was to conduct two cross-country instrument flight rules practice flights between two airports. After departure, the pilot reported that he entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) shortly after takeoff and remained in IMC until he was near his destination airport. The pilot stated that he “messed up” his first approach, and he performed a missed approach. After maneuvering for his second approach, the pilot established the airplane for his second attempt; however, the pilot reported that he was “task-saturated” and that he “neglected to lower the landing gear.” While continuing the approach, the pilot described that he developed “tunnel vision” and did not verify that the landing gear was down. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane on the runway with the landing gear still retracted resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed that the landing gear position handle was in the up position and that the landing gear operated normally when extended. The landing gear position warning horn was not functional.

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

  1. Landing gear not configured during landing defining event
  2. Abnormal runway contact during landing

The NTSB's findings

  • Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
  • Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 3,755 hours in all; 1,890 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 3,613 as pilot in command
  • Last flight review: October 25, 2024
  • Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: annual inspection
  • Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Continental Aerospace Technolo IO-470-N (piston); 1,210 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: ABE Allentown PA at 3:47 pm
  • Flight plan: IFR
  • Runway 06/2, 6,701 ft by 150 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 110° at 8 knots, gusting 14
  • Visibility: 6 statute miles
  • Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft
  • Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
  • Observation at 12:53 pm from UNV

Weather report (METAR): METAR KUNV 131653Z 11008G14KT 6SM -RA BR BKN010 BKN020 OVC034 18/18 A3007=

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

4 documents, released by the NTSB on November 6, 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.

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.