On June 1, 1989, a Piper PA-30 (registration N154P) operated by Bond, Roy was involved in an aviation accident near Columbia, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The intentional landing with the landing gear retracted by an unauthorized individual, compounded by the inoperative landing gear motor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A stolen aircraft was found on the runway at Cottonwoods Airport with its landing gear retracted. The owner was unaware of the theft, and post-accident inspection confirmed the landing gear motor was inoperative.
What happened
The aircraft was discovered resting in the middle of the north-south runway at Cottonwoods Airport. Examination of the scene indicated that the airplane had been landed with its landing gear retracted. The owner of the aircraft was not aware that the plane had been taken from his locked hangar, nor did he know who might have been responsible for the damage.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft's mechanical systems revealed specific details regarding the landing gear configuration. The landing gear motor was found to be inoperative; however, the manual extension system was determined to be operational. Evidence gathered at the scene indicated that the stolen airplane had been intentionally landed with the gear up.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this incident involved the unauthorized use of the aircraft and the failure of the electric landing gear system. The landing gear motor failure prevented normal deployment, but the intentional nature of the gear-up landing suggests deliberate action by the individual who took the aircraft. The owner's lack of awareness regarding the theft from his locked hangar highlights a security breach at the facility.
Probable cause
The intentional landing with the landing gear retracted by an unauthorized individual, compounded by the inoperative landing gear motor.