Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during a routine traffic pattern, he extended the landing gear and flaps on the downwind leg. Both his passenger and a ground witness confirmed that the landing gear was extended during final approach and touchdown. The pilot stated that he visually verified the gear was down and locked prior to touchdown.
Aircraft Behavior and Collapse
Shortly after touchdown, the left wing began lowering as the left main landing gear and nose gear collapsed. The aircraft came to rest on the runway with significant damage to the left wing and forward fuselage.
Post-Accident Examination
Post-accident examination of the landing gear system revealed no evidence of pre-impact malfunction. An FAA inspector reported that the entire landing gear system was in a "transit mode" during the landing roll, indicating that the gear was not locked in the down position at the time of the collapse.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that he might have inadvertently retracted the landing gear, but he did not remember doing so. No other contributing factors were identified in the investigation.