Beech 35-B33 accident near Inyokern, California, June 1, 2003
On June 1, 2003 at about 3:00 am local time, a Beech 35-B33, registered N5FL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Inyokern, California (Inyokern airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot failed to extend the landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2003 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Inyokern, California · Inyokern · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-B33 · all 35-B33s on the register
- Registration
- N5FL · registry record · serial CD-668
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage during a gear up landing. The pilot entered the traffic pattern for the runway in turbulent conditions. He slowed the airplane and entered downwind. After turning from base to final, the airplane touched down and skidded to a stop at the left side of the runway. The pilot thought he had moved the gear handle to the down position; however, it was found in the up position after the accident. He said he was not sure if he simply forgot to lower the gear or accidentally bumped the handle to the up position in the turbulence. No mechanical malfunctions were noted with the airplane.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,059 hours in all; 106 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,040 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2003; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KRNO Reno NV at 1:00 am
- Destination: KIYK Inyokern CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 6,275 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from KIYK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.