What happened
On August 26, 2004, a private Piper PA-2SB RT-201 T Turbo Arrow 4, registered 68ADW, was conducting a cross-country flight from Split, Croatia, to Figari, France. During the approach to runway 23, the pilot encountered significant meteorological challenges, including wind shear and turbulence. The ATIS reported winds from 290 degrees at 25 knots, with gusts reaching up to 42 knots.
While established on a long final, the pilot maintained a speed of approximately 100 knots to mitigate the effects of successive stall warnings caused by the wind shear. As the aircraft reached the short final stage, the pilot decided to proceed with the landing, noting that the wind seemed to have lessened. However, during the descent, the aircraft began to sink abnormally, at which point the pilot realized the landing gear had not been extended. The aircraft drifted to the left, veered off the runway, and struck a beacon before coming to a stop. There were no fatalities or injuries among the two occupants.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making and the aircraft's configuration during the approach. It was established that the pilot's attention was heavily concentrated on managing the flight path amidst the turbulent conditions. The investigation also noted that the pilot's familiarity with the airfield and his intention to descend to a very low altitude to assess the landing conditions influenced his actions. Furthermore, the investigation examined the aircraft's systems, noting that the landing gear warning alarm is inhibited when the manifold pressure exceeds 14 inches, which was the case during the approach.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's focus on managing the trajectory during difficult weather, which led to the omission of the gear extension.
- An element of overconfidence contributed to the oversight, as the pilot was highly experienced with the airfield and had landed there numerous times.
- The decision to bypass the standard airfield circuit due to weather conditions and the use of a long final approach contributed to the failure to extend the gear.