What happened
On July 9, 2024, at approximately 16:00 local time, a Piper PA-3-1T1 was performing landing practice maneuvers at Peldehue Aerodrome (SCPD) in Colina, Chile. The flight crew, consisting of a commercial pilot/instructor and a private pilot, had transitioned from a previous flight segment to conduct takeoff and landing procedure reviews.
During the left-hand traffic pattern for runway 14, the crew was managing several external factors, including nearby terrain and the presence of a helicopter in the area. As the aircraft approached the runway, the crew performed the landing checklist; however, the landing gear remained in the retracted position. Upon touchdown, the propellers struck the runway surface, causing the aircraft to veer to the right and come to a stop on the dirt shoulder of the airfield. There were no injuries to the two crew members, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators examined the aircraft, the site of the occurrence, and the crew's actions. The investigation included a review of maintenance records, which showed the aircraft had been properly maintained and was in compliance with all regulatory requirements. Functional tests of the landing gear, including the landing gear warning horn and position lights, were conducted following the accident, and no mechanical failures or malfunctions were found.
Investigators also analyzed the meteorological conditions, noting that while the crew reported reduced visibility, official reports indicated a visibility of 5,000 meters, which was sufficient for the operation. The investigation focused on the crew's execution of the landing checklist and their situational awareness during the final approach.
Findings
- The aircraft made abnormal contact with the runway surface because it landed with the landing gear retracted.
- The pilot in command experienced a loss of situational awareness due to focusing attention on external factors, specifically attempting to locate a helicopter that was not within their field of view.
- The crew failed to verify the landing gear deployment through the necessary secondary checks, such as confirming the three green lights, the audio alarm, or the nose gear mirror.
- The crew did not properly confirm the landing gear status during the checklist execution, despite the checklist item being read aloud.