What happened
The incident occurred following a local night flight. The aircraft was attempting to land when the landing gear failed to extend, resulting in a gear-up touchdown. Upon coming to rest, the aircraft began to burn and sustained extensive damage from the fire.
Local police responded to the scene and observed an odor commonly associated with alcoholic beverages emanating from the pilot. Officers reminded the pilot of the Georgia implied consent warning regarding blood tests for toxicology purposes. The pilot refused to provide a blood sample.
An investigation revealed that the pilot held only a student license and had taken the aircraft without the owner's permission. The owner was an associate of the pilot's uncle. One passenger stated that he and the pilot had been drinking before deciding to fly with two other persons. When the gear did not extend, the passenger noted a red handle labeled 'emergency gear down' and attempted to operate it, but it proved ineffective.
The pilot reported that the gear failed to extend using either the normal or manual system. The pilot stated he had only 2 hours of flight time in the PA-24 aircraft type.
The investigation
The cause of the landing gear malfunction was not determined due to the extensive fire damage. The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the unauthorized use of the aircraft and the pilot's qualifications.
Findings
The pilot had only a student license and limited experience, reporting just 2 hours in the specific aircraft type. The aircraft was taken without permission from the owner. Evidence suggested alcohol consumption prior to flight, though no toxicology results were obtained due to the pilot's refusal of a blood test.