Globe GC-1B accident near Tucson, Arizona, May 19, 2013
On May 19, 2013 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Globe GC-1B, registered N3802K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Tucson, Arizona (Ryan Field). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to lower the landing gear prior to touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2013 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Ryan Field · 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
- N3802K · registry record · serial 1495
- 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 during the third approach practicing touch-and-go landings, he felt and heard the propeller hit the ground and realized that he had forgotten to lower the landing gear. The airplane touched down on the runway, and skidded to a stop in about 600 feet substantially damaging the lower fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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 not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Configuration › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 27,698 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 13, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,814 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 2012; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,970 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-360C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: RYN Tucson AZ at 2:30 pm
- Destination: RYN Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06L, 4,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KTUS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 WPR13CA240.