Beech E-55 accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, July 3, 2010
On July 3, 2010 at about 2:30 am local time, a Beech E-55, registered N3644A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Las Vegas, Nevada (Mccarran International Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The landing gear collapse for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2010 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · Mccarran International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E-55 · all E-55s on the register
- Registration
- N3644A · no longer on the register · serial TE-778
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After extending the landing gear, the pilot confirmed that the green landing gear light was illuminated, which indicated that the landing gear was down and extended. A short time later, a complete electrical failure occurred, and the landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear was partially extended, the main landing gear struts were folded inboard, and the nose landing gear was folded up into the wheel well. All wiring to the landing gear motor, gear indicator and limit switches and control circuits were inspected and exhibited no anomalies. However, during the examination, wiring was found pinched and tangled in the left main landing gear actuating arm. It could not be determined if this wire contributed to the electrical failure or if it caused a possible false activation of the gear limit switches, which then falsely illuminated the landing gear light.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 7,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 15, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,688 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2009; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Teledyne Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Teledyne Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19R, 8,985 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 17 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.54 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 am from LAS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N3644A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.