What happened
The aircraft was operating on final approach when it encountered significant atmospheric disturbances. While maneuvering on downwind for landing, the airplane experienced a severe downdraft that compromised its ability to maintain altitude. Recognizing the immediate danger, the pilot elected to abort the landing attempt.
During the go-around procedure, the pilot retracted the landing gear while applying full power. Despite the increased thrust, the aircraft continued to descend due to the persistent downdraft and limited energy state. With rising terrain ahead and insufficient clearance to clear obstacles safely, the pilot made the decision to return to the airport.
Upon reaching the runway threshold again, the pilot executed a landing with the landing gear fully retracted. The aircraft came to rest on its belly after touching down on the paved surface.
The investigation
Examination of the event focused on the sequence of control inputs and environmental conditions. The report notes that the downdraft was severe enough to prevent altitude gain during the initial go-around attempt. The decision to retract gear during a descent phase with terrain constraints was identified as a critical factor in the final outcome.
Findings
The primary contributing factors were the severe downdraft encountered during the approach and the pilot's subsequent decision-making process regarding gear configuration and terrain avoidance. The inability to gain altitude despite full power application highlights the performance limitations of the aircraft in such weather conditions.