Beech D35 accident near Corona, California, May 28, 2018
On May 28, 2018 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1953 Beech D35, registered N2167D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Corona, California (Corona Muni airport). It was a personal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadvertent landing gear retraction during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2018 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Corona, California · Corona Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D35 NO SERIES, built 1953 · all D35s on the register
- Registration
- N2167D · no longer on the register · serial D-3514
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the retractable-landing-gear airplane reported that, during the landing roll, he reached for the flap switch to retract the flaps, and although the flap and landing gear switches are on the left and right side of the control column, respectively, he inadvertently retracted the landing gear. The pilot added that he had previously flown other airplanes that had the flap switch on the right side of the control column. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Unintentional use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 238.8 hours in all; 29.7 in this make and model; 3.4 in the last 90 days; 1.6 in the last 30 days; 194.3 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 16, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,148.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 9, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,840 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E225-8 (piston); 2,922 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POC La Verne CA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: AJO Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from KAJO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 GAA18CA342.