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Pilot Error Leads to Gear-Up Landing

Dayton, TN, United States

On June 3, 2014, a SWEARINGEN SA 226AT AT operated by McNeely Charter Service was involved in an aviation accident near Dayton, TN. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear during the approach, which resulted in a gear-up landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 17 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot mistakenly thought the landing gear was extended, resulting in a gear-up landing that caused substantial damage to the wing spar. No mechanical issues were reported.

Incident Overview

Approximately five miles from the destination airport, the pilot conducted the before landing checklist and believed the landing gear had been extended. The pilot continued the approach, and the aircraft touched down with the landing gear still retracted. The impact caused substantial damage to the wing spar.

Pilot Actions

The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation before the accident. The failure to properly verify the landing gear extension was identified as the key factor in the incident.

Damage Assessment

The gear-up landing resulted in significant structural damage, specifically to the wing spar. The extent of the damage required extensive repairs to return the aircraft to airworthy condition.

Contributing factors

PilotNot used/operated

Related events

Same aircraft family

Same operator

  • 2 Jun 2014 — Swearingen SA226-AT Merlin IV (McNeely Charter Service)
  • 19 May 2010 — Swearingen SA226-AT Merlin IV (McNeely Charter Service)
  • 31 Aug 2008 — Fairchild SA227-AC Metro III (McNeely Charter Service)
  • 5 Feb 2008 — Swearingen SA226-AT Merlin IV (McNeely Charter Service)
  • 6 Nov 1997 — Douglas C-47A-65-DL (DC-3C) (McNeely Charter Service)

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 3 Jun 2014 SWEARINGEN SA 226AT AT accident near Dayton, TN?

A pilot mistakenly thought the landing gear was extended, resulting in a gear-up landing that caused substantial damage to the wing spar. No mechanical issues were reported.

Were there any fatalities in the 3 Jun 2014 SWEARINGEN SA 226AT AT accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 3 Jun 2014 involved a SWEARINGEN SA 226AT AT, operated by McNeely Charter Service, at Dayton, TN.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear during the approach, which resulted in a gear-up landing.

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