NTSB CAROL · Event
Event CEN23LA192
Registry · N42JM
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
NORTH AMERICAN-BUEHN T-6G
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19801218
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A4FA1A
Registrant of record
SAWHILL MATTHEW P
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot’s inadvertent retraction of the landing gear control lever, resulting in a gear-up landing on the runway.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported he completed the landing checklist on the downwind leg and confirmed that the landing gear was extended via the cockpit landing gear indicator lights. Additionally, he saw that the landing gear locking pins were engaged. On final approach, the pilot intended to move the flap control lever to the “full down” position; however, he inadvertently moved the landing gear control lever from the “down” position. The pilot did not perform a visual gear down check on short final. The airplane touched down with its main landing gear retracted and came to a stop on the runway. The pilot and his passenger exited the airplane and a post-accident fire ensued. The fuselage and left wing were substantially damaged by the fire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- — Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Main landing gear-Unintentional use/operation
- — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action selection-Pilot
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2023_CEN23LA192.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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