Landing gear retraction during approach to airport

Casualties unknown • Blythe, CA, US

An aircraft experienced a landing gear incident after the pilot failed to extend the gear following an issue with flap deployment.

What happened

During the approach into the airport, the pilot encountered an issue where the flaps would not lock into the 20-degree extended position. In response to this difficulty, the pilot decided to perform a no-flap landing and consulted the emergency checklist. While reviewing the procedures, the pilot focused on maintaining a stabilized approach and inadvertently overlooked the instruction to extend the landing gear, under the mistaken impression that the gear was already down and locked.

As a result, the aircraft touched down on the runway with the landing gear in the retracted position. There were no injuries reported following the incident.

The investigation

An examination of the landing gear system revealed no mechanical malfunctions. Additionally, a ground test run of the flaps was conducted, but the failure encountered during the flight could not be reproduced.

Probable cause

The pilot failed to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown after overlooking the specific instruction in the emergency checklist while focusing on a stabilized approach.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2005-03-12 Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A accident near Blythe, CA?

An aircraft experienced a landing gear incident after the pilot failed to extend the gear following an issue with flap deployment.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2005-03-12 involved a Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A, registration N333WF, operated by Jaax Flying Service, Inc., at Blythe, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot failed to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown after overlooking the specific instruction in the emergency checklist while focusing on a stabilized approach.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20050525X00670. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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