Beech V35 accident near Gulf Shores, Alabama, February 17, 2026
On February 17, 2026 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1979 Beech V35, registered N35KA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gulf Shores, Alabama (Gulf Shores International Airp airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to establish a positive rate of climb before retracting the landing gear, which resulted in abnormal runway contact during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 2026 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gulf Shores, Alabama · Gulf Shores International Airp · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35 B, built 1979 · all V35s on the register
- Registration
- N35KA · registry record · serial D-10231
- 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 during the takeoff he inadvertently retracted the landing gear prior to establishing a positive rate of climb. The pilot initially tried to continue the takeoff, and the airplane briefly became airborne before he then elected to reject the takeoff and land on the remaining runway. The airplane came to rest on its on the underside of the fuselage with the landing gear retracted, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- 300094 during nose over
- 300090 during nose over
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear selector › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, APLN, none
- Flight time: 3,195 hours in all; 719 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 3,195 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 21, 2025
- Medical certificate: class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,658 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, December 11, 2025; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B5F (piston); 1,744 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Destination: SRC Searcy AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 09, 6,962 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft; a few clouds at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°C, dew point 59°C
- Altimeter: 30.139999 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from JKA
Weather report (METAR): METAR KJKA 171755Z 08013KT 10SM FEW015 BKN038 20/15 A3014
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 ERA26LA117.