Short Bros SD-360-300 accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, June 25, 2021
On June 25, 2021 at about 8:45 pm local time, a 1988 Short Bros SD-360-300, registered N970AA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Las Vegas, Nevada (Harry Reid Intl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear during landing and the check pilot’s inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2021 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · Harry Reid Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Short Bros SD-360-300, built 1988
- Registration
- N970AA · registry record · serial 3737
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The check pilot reported that, the pilot being evaluated was performing a simulated critical engine failure approach to a local airport. During the visual approach, everything seemed normal until touchdown when both pilots realized that the landing gear had not been extended. The airplane slid to a stop on the runway substantially damaging the lower fuselage. The check pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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 (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,560 hours in all; 875 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 23, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,294 hours in all; 1,780 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: April 5, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24,393.6 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 13, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 27,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67R (turboprop); 24,394 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67R (turboprop); 24,393 hours total
- Operator: Acc Integrated Services Inc
The flight
- Departed from: KVGT Las Vegas NV at 8:20 pm
- Runway 08R/, 10,526 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KLAS, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLAS 252056Z 25004KT 10SM FEW120 37/M01 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP083 T03671006 58017
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 22, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.