Beech 35 - UNDESIGNAT accident near Seattle, Washington, September 21, 2013
On September 21, 2013 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1965 Beech 35 - UNDESIGNAT, registered N5894S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Seattle, Washington (Boeing Field/King County Intl). 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 pilot's distracted attention and failure to extend the landing gear, which resulted 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
- September 21, 2013 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · Boeing Field/King County Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 - UNDESIGNAT UNDESIGNAT, built 1965 · all 35 - UNDESIGNATs on the register
- Registration
- N5894S · registry record · serial D-7765
- 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 he was instructed by air traffic control to enter a right downwind following a corporate jet that was on final approach, and he was warned about wake turbulence. The pilot further stated that as he observed the jet pass by, he turned to watch it land so he could land beyond its touchdown point. The pilot revealed that in doing so, this interrupted him from completing his landing checklist and he failed to extend the landing gear. The airplane subsequently landed gear up which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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 Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Configuration › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 907 hours in all; 273 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 846 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,262 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 11, 2012; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550 (piston); 867 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWT Bremerton WA at 8:45 pm
- Destination: BFI Seattle WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13R, 10,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from BFI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.