Globe GC-1B accident near Swanton, Ohio, April 18, 2001
On April 18, 2001 at about 8:51 pm local time, a Globe GC-1B, registered N2429B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Swanton, Ohio (Toledo Express 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 landing, due to diverted attention.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 2001 · about 8:51 pm local time
- Place
- Swanton, Ohio · Toledo Express · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe GC-1B · all GC-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2429B · registry record · serial 3729
- 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 at the time he was landing, multiple runways were being used and he was sequenced between two jets. He was dividing his time and attention between the other airplanes and his airplane. He remembered that he rotated the landing switch to the down position, and believed the landing gear had extended. However, when he flared to land, the propeller contacted the runway, and at that point he realized the landing gear was not down and locked. The airplane slid to a stop on the runway with the landing gear retracted. Examination of the airplane revealed the rotary switch which initiated the electro/hydraulic extension of the landing gear was worn and it was necessary to ensure that the switch was rotated fully to make the electrical contacts necessary for landing gear extension. A check of the warning light that illuminated with a closed throttle, and landing gear not extended, revealed it would illuminate only of the throttle was pulled forcibly to the throttle closed position. The airplane was also equipped with a pair of red painted wires on the top of the wing which were visible when the landing gear was retracted, and not visible when the landing gear was extended. The pilot also reported that due to the volume of air traffic, he failed to verify the landing gear was down and locked prior to landing.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,800 hours in all; 1,650 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 7, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 2000; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,970 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTK Pontiac OH at 8:30 pm
- Destination: TOL Swanton OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,599 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from TOL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.