Cessna 340 accident near Odessa, Texas, August 26, 2004
On August 26, 2004 at about 5:17 pm local time, a Cessna 340, registered N98624, was substantially damaged in an accident near Odessa, Texas (Odessa-Schlemeyer Field Airpor). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing and the instructor's inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2004 · about 5:17 pm local time
- Place
- Odessa, Texas · Odessa-Schlemeyer Field Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340 · all 340s on the register
- Registration
- N98624 · registry record · serial 340A-0064
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 11,623-hour certificated flight instructor (CFI) reported that during a simulated engine out landing, the 6,727-hour pilot receiving instruction failed to extend the landing gear prior to landing. While on the downwind leg of the approach, the pilot was practicing and inoperative engine procedure which diverted his attention. The CFI stated that as power was reduced on final approach for landing, the aural gear warning horn sounded and "it was doubtful that a go-around could have been initiated successfully," and power was reduced to idle on both engines and landed gear up.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,623 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 10,327 as pilot in command; 2,963 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 9, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,727 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,420 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 2003; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,025 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MAF Midland TX
- Destination: ODO Odessa TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,703 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from ODO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.