Summary of Flight
On 13 June 2003, a Beech 76 Duchess, registration G-BOFC, was conducting a training flight at Exeter Airport, Devon. The flight was planned to include circuits and landings on the dry asphalt surface of Runway 26, which has a landing distance available of 2,307 metres. Meteorological conditions were CAVOK with a variable surface wind of 5 knots. The student pilot was handling the controls.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft was a twin-engine Beech 76 Duchess, manufactured in 1979, powered by two Lycoming LO-360-A1G6D piston engines. The commander held an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence and was 61 years old, with a total flying experience of 11,984 hours, including 2,500 hours on type. He had flown 141 hours in the last 90 days and 71 hours in the last 28 days. There were two crew members on board and no passengers.
Sequence of Events
During the approach for a touch-and-go landing, the aircraft entered a low-level circuit. The initial flap setting of 10° was selected on the downwind leg as part of landing checks. A normal base leg was flown, and the aircraft was aligned with the runway at an altitude of 400 feet. Full flap was selected at 200 feet. Neither pilot verified that the landing gear was down and locked. The aircraft subsequently touched down with its landing gear retracted, sliding on the runway before coming to a halt.
Both pilots were uninjured. The commander reported that he first heard the gear warning horn as the aircraft came to a stop. This aural warning is activated when full flap is selected and the landing gear is not down and locked. The commander stated that the late selection of full flap caused the warning horn to sound at a late stage of the approach, when the pilots' attention was focused on the imminent touchdown.
Damage
The accident resulted in both propellers being bent and the engines sustaining shock loads. The lower fuselage also suffered damage.