On April 7, 1985, a Swearingen SA-227-AC (registration N3005J) operated by Pioneer Airlines, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Williston, ND. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing, an aircraft made ground contact with landing gear retracted. The captain initiated a go-around, manually lowered the gear, and shut down the right engine before an uneventful landing. No mechanical malfunction was found.
Incident Overview
According to the flight crew, the flight from Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) to another airport was uneventful until the landing phase. The first officer was flying the aircraft at the time of the occurrence. The crew reported that all checklist items had been completed prior to landing.
Ground Contact and Go-Around
The aircraft made contact with the ground while the landing gear was in the up position. The captain took control and executed a go-around. Subsequently, the landing gear was lowered manually, and the right engine was shut down. The aircraft then performed an uneventful landing.
Witness Accounts
Three witnesses reported that the landing gear was in the up position throughout the approach and landing phases.
Investigation Findings
No evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure was found with the landing gear components or system.