Beechcraft V35 N35KA

Summary

On 17 February 2026 at about 18:30 local time, a Beechcraft V35 registered N35KA was involved in an accident near Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 February 2026 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Gulf Shores International Airp (JKA)

Coordinates

30.2903, -87.6712

Aircraft

Beechcraft V35

Registration

N35KA

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Searcy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA26LA117

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to establish a positive rate of climb before retracting the landing gear, which resulted in abnormal runway contact during the takeoff roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the takeoff he inadvertently retracted the landing gear prior to establishing a positive rate of climb. The pilot initially tried to continue the takeoff, and the airplane briefly became airborne before he then elected to reject the takeoff and land on the remaining runway. The airplane came to rest on its on the underside of the fuselage with the landing gear retracted, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.