What happened
Following several instrument-based procedures, the flight returned to Knoxville for landing. During a subsequent takeoff, the first officer neglected to use the required checklist, and the check airman decided to proceed with the flight despite this omission. During a later visual approach, the crew attempted to land the aircraft type without extending the landing gear. This resulted in a gear-up touchdown where both propeller assemblies made contact with the concrete runway. The pilot notified the control tower of the incident and initiated a go-around.
During the climb following the initial touchdown, the check airman lowered the landing gear, feathered the right propeller, and began a teardrop pattern to approach the opposite runway. While the crew was on short final for a second landing attempt, the check airman requested maximum power and a reduction in flap settings. The crew then initiated a single-engine go-around at an altitude of less than 200 feet. The aircraft climbed for a short duration before crashing in an inverted position approximately 7,500 feet from the runway approach end. The accident resulted in two fatalities.
Findings
- The crew failed to utilize the standard checklist during the flight sequence.
- The landing gear was not deployed during the initial approach.
- There is no established operational procedure for performing a single-engine go-around at an altitude below 200 feet.