What happened
On February 14, 2023, a private pilot operating a Cessna 172RG departed from San Rafael Aerodrome (SCAN) for a training flight. The objective of the flight was to perform a series of 180-degree power-off approach maneuvers at Víctor Lafón Aerodrome (SCSF) in San Felipe.
The pilot successfully completed four practice approaches involving touchdown and takeoffs. However, during the fifth attempt, the aircraft made contact with the asphalt runway of runway 34 with the landing gear still in the retracted position. The aircraft slid along the runway surface, coming to a stop approximately 400 meters north of the runway threshold. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained significant damage to the propeller blades and the lower fuselage.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators examined the aircraft, the maintenance records, and the pilot's actions. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's maintenance status was current and that the landing gear and warning systems—including the audible alarm and cockpit lights—were fully functional.
Investigators found that the pilot had intentionally delayed extending the landing gear during the approach to reduce aerodynamic drag and maintain glide distance during the power-off maneuver. While the pilot reported hearing the audible gear warning, the investigation focused on why the visual verification and the physical extension of the gear were omitted during the final approach.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was abnormal contact with the runway due to the landing gear being in the retracted position.
- The pilot experienced a loss of situational awareness, failing to monitor the gear position despite available visual and audible alerts.
- Channelized attention occurred as the pilot focused heavily on the touchdown point, neglecting the completion of the 'before landing' checklist.
- Complacency played a role, as the successful completion of four prior maneuvers likely led the pilot to bypass critical procedural steps during the fifth attempt.
- The pilot's use of noise-canceling headphones may have contributed to the failure to react to the audible warning.