What happened
On November 26, 2022, a private pilot was conducting a maintenance flight involving a touch-and-go maneuver at the La Victoria de Chacabuco Aerodrome (SCVH) in Chile. The flight originated from Aerodrome Eulogio Sánchez (SCTB).
As the pilot approached runway 21, they were executing the standard landing checklist, including flap adjustments. However, as the Cessna 182 neared the runway surface, the pilot realized the aircraft was lower than intended. Before the wheels could make contact with the pavement, the propeller and the lower fuselage struck the runway. The aircraft slid approximately 50 meters along the asphalt before coming to a complete stop. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller blades and the lower fuselage structure.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators examined the aircraft, the site of the impact, and the pilot's flight records. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's maintenance logs were up to date, with the last annual inspection completed in March 2022. The engine, propeller, and airframe were found to be in good working order, and no mechanical failures were identified in the landing gear system.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's flight experience and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The weather was reported as CAVOK (ceiling and visibility OK) with calm winds, providing ideal conditions for visual flight operations. The investigation focused on the pilot's execution of the landing checklist and the sequence of events leading to the impact.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the abnormal contact of the aircraft with the runway surface because the landing gear remained in the retracted position.
- The pilot experienced a loss of situational awareness due to an intense focus on the specific requirements of the touch-and-go maneuver.
- The landing checklist was performed incompletely, as the pilot failed to verify that the landing gear was down and locked.
- There were no mechanical or technical malfunctions contributing to the event; the landing gear system was fully operational.