What happened
On October 30, 2009, a Beechcraft A36, registered JA4165, was conducting a solo flight training mission from Kumamoto Airport to Kagoshima Airport. The flight was operated by the Independent Administrative Institution Civil Aviation College and was being supervised by a flight instructor.
As the aircraft approached Kagoshima Airport, the air traffic controller instructed the student pilot to perform a short approach to accommodate following traffic. While executing this maneuver, the student pilot became preoccupied with the instruction and the proximity of preceding aircraft. During the approach, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft did not make contact with its wheels; instead, the lower fuselage struck the runway. The aircraft slid along the pavement, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, propellers, and landing gear doors. There were no injuries to the student pilot, though the aircraft suffered significant structural damage.
The investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) examined the flight history, aircraft condition, and cockpit instrumentation. Investigators reviewed the student pilot's actions, the controller's instructions, and the aircraft's mechanical state. The investigation included interviews with the student, an eyewitness, the air traffic controller, and the flight instructor.
Key areas of focus included the student's checklist execution, the validity of the "short approach" instruction under the college's training protocols, and the functionality of the landing gear warning systems. The investigation also looked into the student's decision to remain inside the aircraft following the impact.