Incident Details
A Piper PA-23-250 aircraft was conducting an instrument approach to an airport. According to the pilot, the landing gear was lowered prior to touchdown. However, both propellers struck the runway surface. The pilot initiated a go-around, during which the aircraft began to veer to the left. Power was reduced, and the aircraft subsequently made contact with the dirt area off the left side of the runway.
Occupants and Injuries
The pilot and two passengers were not injured. Two other passengers received minor injuries.
Post-Crash Examination
A post-crash examination of the aircraft revealed that the landing gear, landing gear position lights, and warning horn were functioning properly. The landing gear was found to be in the retracted position at the time of touchdown. No mechanical malfunction could be identified.
Pilot Certificate Information
The pilot held a valid medical certificate. However, his pilot certificate privileges were commercial for single-engine land (ASEL) and private for multi-engine land (AMEL). He had received several checkrides from the FAA in multi-engine aircraft under 14 CFR 135, which allowed him to operate as pilot-in-command in multi-engine aircraft without this discrepancy being previously discovered by the FAA.