What happened
On 13 May 2017, a Beechcraft 35, registration F-BASF, was conducting a private flight from Brest to Jersey Airport. During the arrival phase, Jersey Approach Control instructed the pilot to remain below 1,000 ft near the Fremont TV mast and requested that the pilot report when visual with a Cherokee aircraft. The controller then directed the pilot to follow the Cherokee, which was being radar vectored toward Runway 26.
As the pilot closed the distance to the preceding aircraft, they considered extending the landing gear but chose to delay the action because the airspeed exceeded the 140 kt limit for gear extension. During the final approach, the pilot noted the proximity of the two aircraft and maintained extra altitude to avoid the prop wash from the Cherokee. While the pilot was focused on monitoring the lead aircraft and listening for instructions from the tower, the stall warner began sounding. Once the Cherokee cleared the runway, the pilot received landing clearance, but the landing gear had not been deployed. The aircraft subsequently performed a gear-up landing.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events leading to the landing, focusing on the pilot's actions during the approach and the interaction with Air Traffic Control. The inquiry reviewed the pilot's decision-making regarding gear extension speeds and the impact of following another aircraft on the cockpit workload. There were no fatalities or injuries resulting from the incident, though the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, flaps, cowl flaps, and radio antennas.