What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was conducting a visual approach to runway 27L. During the final phase of the landing maneuver, the airplane touched down on its propellers rather than its wheels. Ground witnesses observed that the landing gear appeared to be in the retracted position throughout the entire approach and at the moment of touchdown.
Following the event, the aircraft was moved from the runway and placed on jacks for inspection. Mechanical tests were conducted to evaluate the status of the landing gear system. The results showed that the retraction and extension mechanisms functioned normally. Additionally, the warning indications associated with the gear position operated as designed.
The investigation
Post-accident examinations focused on verifying the mechanical integrity of the landing gear system and its associated warning devices. Tests confirmed that the hydraulic or electrical systems responsible for moving the gear were operating correctly. The warning horn, which is designed to sound when flaps are down and the gear is up, also exhibited normal operation during testing.
Findings
Both the captain and the first officer provided statements regarding the sequence of events leading up to the landing. They reported that they had lowered the landing gear while passing over the outer marker. According to the crew, they visually confirmed three green lights indicating that the gear was locked down. They also stated that the warning horn did not sound prior to touchdown, which would have been expected if the gear were not fully extended.
Despite the crew's observations of the green lights and the absence of an audible warning, the physical evidence on the runway—specifically the propeller blade signatures—confirmed that the gear was indeed retracted. The discrepancy between the visual indications seen by the crew and the actual position of the gear remains a key point of inquiry, though mechanical function was verified as normal after the fact.