What happened
During the landing roll, the aircraft touched down with the nose wheel firmly on the pavement. However, the main landing gear remained in a trailing position rather than locking into place. As the aircraft settled onto the runway surface, the lack of support from the main gear resulted in substantial damage to the airframe.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed specific mechanical failures contributing to the incident. Investigators found that the gear-down warning horn was non-functional, meaning the crew received no auditory alert regarding the gear status. Additionally, the landing gear hydraulic pump was producing insufficient pressure to secure the gear in the down position.
Findings
The primary factors identified were the hydraulic system failure preventing gear lock and the non-functioning warning horn. The combination of these issues meant that the aircraft landed without its main gear properly secured, leading directly to the substantial damage observed after the event.