Piper PA23 lands with gear retracted at Saint-Barthélemy

Casualties unknown • French is the work of reference., FR

A Piper PA23-250 sustained substantial damage after landing with its landing gear retracted at Saint-Barthélemy airport, following an engine smoke alert and pressure to land ahead of other traffic.

What happened

On December 26, 2024, a Piper PA23-250, registration N14040, was conducting a cross-country flight from F. D. Roosevelt airport to Saint-Barthélemy. While established on the left-hand base leg for runway 28, the pilot was notified by the AFIS officer of continuous smoke emanating from the left-hand engine. Simultaneously, the pilot was managing traffic sequencing with a Britten-Norman BN2 Islander approaching the reciprocal runway 10.

During the final approach, the AFIS officer observed that the aircraft's landing gear had not been extended and alerted the pilot. Due to the restrictive terrain surrounding runway 28, which prohibits go-arounds after a certain point, the pilot continued the approach. The aircraft touched down on its underside, sliding along the runway until it collided with a taxiway sign, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot was uninjured.

The investigation

The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the gear-up landing and the environmental constraints at Saint-Barthélemy. Investigators examined the pilot's actions, the engine's condition, and the airport's operational limitations. The investigation established that the left-hand engine had an oil leak, which caused the visible smoke. The inquiry also reviewed the pilot's workload, noting that the pilot had experienced a perceived time pressure to land before the BN2 Islander, as well as the distraction caused by the engine anomaly.

Findings

Several factors contributed to the accident, most notably the failure to extend the landing gear due to a combination of cognitive and environmental pressures:

  • The pilot's attention was diverted by the smoke from the left-hand engine, which may have led to an oversight during the approach checklist.
  • A perceived time constraint, driven by the desire to land before arriving traffic on the opposite runway, likely led to rushed procedures.
  • The pilot did not observe or react to the lack of landing gear lock indicators.
  • The specific geography of Saint-Barthélemy airport prevented a go-around on short final for runway 28, making the gear-up configuration critical.

Probable cause

The pilot failed to extend the landing gear due to a combination of distraction from an engine oil leak and perceived pressure to land quickly to accommodate arriving traffic, compounded by the inability to perform a go-around due to local terrain.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2024-12-26 PIPER PA23-250 accident near French is the work of reference., FR?

A Piper PA23-250 sustained substantial damage after landing with its landing gear retracted at Saint-Barthélemy airport, following an engine smoke alert and pressure to land ahead of other traffic.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2024-12-26 involved a PIPER PA23-250, registration N14040, at French is the work of reference., FR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot failed to extend the landing gear due to a combination of distraction from an engine oil leak and perceived pressure to land quickly to accommodate arriving traffic, compounded by the inability to perform a go-around due to local terrain.

Loading the flight search…