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Accidents · NTSB MIA04LA102 · Final report

Beech V35B accident near Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, June 27, 2004

On June 27, 2004 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N2167L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi (Stennis International 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 visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The failure of the pilot to verify the landing gear was extended prior to touchdown resulting in a gear-up landing.

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

What the record shows

Date
June 27, 2004 · about 12:30 pm local time
Place
Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi · Stennis International Airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
Registration
N2167L · no longer on the register · serial D-9932
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

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

The pilot stated that the flight proceeded to the destination airport where he descended to traffic pattern altitude and entered the downwind leg at a normal 45-degree entry. When abeam the numbers during the downwind leg, he placed the landing gear selector handle to the down position and observed three green lights. He also reported that the airplane slowed as though the extended gear drag was present. The rest of the approach was what he considered typical and at no time was there any indication that something was "amiss." After a typical final approach he reduced power to idle and entered ground effect, then during the flare approximately 2-5 feet above the runway surface, he heard the gear warning horn sound but it was not until the propeller contacted the runway surface did he realize, "...the gear must not have been locked, or must have cycled back into the up position." The airplane came to rest on the right side of the runway. The pilot further stated that after the airplane was raised from the runway, all landing gears were in their respective wheel wells with the doors fully closed. He then entered the cockpit, noted the landing gear motor circuit breaker was popped, and cycled the landing gear selector handle from the down to the up then down position. He then pushed in the landing gear motor circuit breaker, turned on the master switch, and the landing gear extended. The airplane was then towed to the hangar. Following recovery of the airplane the airplane, it was placed on jacks and in the presence of an FAA airworthiness inspector, six complete landing gear retraction checks were performed with no discrepancies noted.

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: 1,000 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 1,000 as pilot in command
  • Last flight review: December 1, 2002
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 3,566.1 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 2003; 796 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: KBFM Mobile AL at 12:00 pm
  • Destination: KHSA Bay Saint Louis MS
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 18, 8,500 ft by 150 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: a few clouds at 1,500 ft
  • Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
  • Observation at 12:53 pm from KGPT

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.