What happened
On May 19, 2016, a Beech D35, registration N2967B, was involved in a fatal accident at Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport (GKT) in Sevierville, Tennessee. After departing GKT at approximately 11:02, the pilot flew in the local area for about 30 minutes.
During the return to the airport, the aircraft approached runway 10 and touched down with the landing gear in the retracted position and the wing flaps extended. The propeller struck the runway pavement, causing the airplane to skid on its belly. The pilot increased engine power, causing the airplane to lift off the ground. While climbing approximately 25 feet above the runway surface, the aircraft became unstable, pitched up, rolled to the left, and impacted the terrain about 450 feet beyond the runway departure end. The pilot sustained 1 fatal injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found the landing gear doors were closed and all three landing gear were in their retracted positions within the gear wells. The emergency landing gear extension hand crank was stowed. The propeller showed significant impact damage from contacting the runway, which investigators determined likely caused a loss of thrust.
Review of the pilot's records indicated that his last flight review had been completed more than 10 years prior to the accident. Additionally, while the pilot had received flight instruction in this specific aircraft approximately one year earlier, there was no record of the required complex or high-performance endorsements in his logbook.
Examination of the cabin revealed that the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH/AFM), which contained the "Before Landing Checklist" instructing the pilot to extend and check the landing gear, was located behind the seats in an area unreachable from the pilot's position. No checklists were found near the pilot's seat.
Findings
- The pilot failed to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown.
- The pilot made the inappropriate decision to abort the landing after the propeller had already contacted the runway.
- The propeller strike resulted in a loss of thrust during the attempted climb.
- The aircraft's pitch-up and roll were consistent with an aerodynamic stall caused by exceeding the critical angle of attack.