Accident
On 9 February 2004, at 1213 UTC, a Beech C24R Musketeer Super R (registration G-BYDG) was conducting a training flight at Bournemouth, Dorset. The aircraft was equipped with one IO-360-A1B6 piston engine and was manufactured in 1978. The commander held a Commercial Pilot's Licence and was 65 years old, with 15,624 total flying hours (37 hours on type). The student pilot was also on board.
Sequence of Events
After an instrument training detail, the student pilot performed an ILS approach followed by a go-around into a low-level visual circuit to land on Runway 26. The weather was calm with a high cloud base. As the aircraft touched down, the crew realised the landing gear was not extended. The aircraft came to rest on the underside of the fuselage. Both crew members, who were wearing lap and diagonal seat belts, were uninjured.
Findings
It is common practice to leave the landing gear lowered for the entire low-level circuit; however, after the go-around the gear had been raised. This configuration was not recognised during the crew's downwind or finals checks. Additionally, Bournemouth Air Traffic Control does not require a 'landing gear down' confirmation radio transmission due to their mix of fixed and retractable landing gear traffic.
Damage
The underside of the fuselage and the propeller sustained damage.