Summary
On October 31, 2025, at approximately 5:00 pm local time (2100 UTC), a Piper Seneca II PA-34-200T, United States registration N9528C, was involved in a gear-up landing on runway 12 at Exuma International Airport (MYEF), Exuma, Bahamas. The aircraft had two crew and two passengers on board; no injuries were reported.
Flight Details
The aircraft departed earlier that day from Northeast Florida Regional Airport, St Augustine (KSGJ) en route to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE), where it stopped for fuel. The pilot in command (PIC) reported a 25-minute hold short before departure from KFXE due to aerodrome operational delays. The flight to MYEF was uneventful. At approximately 25 miles from MYEF, the PIC cancelled his flight plan and proceeded for a straight-in final approach.
Occurrence
The PIC reported that he believed he extended the landing gear after cancelling the flight plan but could not recall with certainty whether the gear was selected down with all three green annunciators illuminated. He stated he set 25 degrees of flaps, and no landing-gear warning horn sounded. The aircraft landed with the gear retracted, performing a belly landing. Upon impact, the PIC immediately shut down the engines, and the aircraft slid approximately 400 feet. Emergency personnel intercepted the aircraft near taxiway Bravo on runway 12. All occupants exited without injury. The aircraft was lifted with a crane, the gear was hydraulically extended, and the aircraft taxied under power after initial photos and post-incident procedures.
Maintenance Findings
Post-incident inspection revealed abrasion and scraping along the lower fuselage, deformation of localized belly stringers, and damage to the propellers (left and right), nose gear cone assembly, nose gear track assembly, nose gear roller assembly, and the forward COMM antenna. The landing gear system tested normally when the aircraft was jacked up, with all three green gear-down lights illuminating. The flap system was found in the fully retracted position in photos taken shortly after impact; no pre-impact damage to flap tracks or actuators was noted. The warning horn was functional during testing. The aircraft was determined not airworthy by a certified mechanic; repairs include replacement of both propellers, nose gear components, and the COMM antenna, along with mandatory engine inspections.
Human Factors
The AAIA noted contributing factors including a 25-minute pre-departure delay that may have contributed to mental fatigue, task interruption from cancelling the flight plan during the approach, and discrepancy between the pilot's reported actions (gear extended, flaps at 25°) and the actual configuration found (gear retracted, flaps at 0°). All electrical, hydraulic, and landing gear systems tested operative post-incident. The warning horn should have sounded continuously with gear up and throttles below the preset threshold; possible reasons the pilot did not hear it include inattention, low volume, headset masking, or insufficient power reduction.
Probable Cause
The AAIA determined the probable cause to be failure to extend the landing gear before landing, resulting in a gear-up landing. Contributing factors included failure to properly configure the aircraft for landing, subsequent lack of attention to cockpit indications, task fixation and possible fatigue-related memory lapses, and failure to recognize or respond to landing gear visual lights or warning sounds.