What happened
On July 28, 2008, a Piper PA-28RT, registration PH-PHE, was conducting a training flight at Groningen Airport Eelde (EHGG). The flight involved a student pilot and an instructor, with the objective of performing various maneuvers and an instrument approach to runway 23. Following a planned missed approach at approximately 200 feet, the student pilot transitioned to a visual approach for runway 05.
During the climb, the student pilot retracted the landing gear. Although the instructor advised that retraction was unnecessary given the upcoming landing, the student pilot subsequently failed to extend the gear for the final approach. As the aircraft touched down on runway 05, the underside of the fuselage and the propeller made contact with the runway, resulting in a belly landing. While the two occupants escaped without injury, the aircraft sustained significant damage, and the runway itself showed minor damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of cockpit actions and the visibility of cockpit indicators. The student pilot, who was training for a commercial pilot license, admitted to relying on "memory items" during the final approach rather than performing a formal checklist. He failed to verify that the three green landing gear indicators were illuminated. The instructor, while observing the student's hand move toward the gear lever, could not visually confirm the lever's position due to the center console obstructing his view. Furthermore, the instructor believed the green lights were illuminated, though the investigation noted that the brightness of these lights is reduced when the aircraft's navigation lights are active.
Investigators also examined the aircraft's warning systems. While a previous maintenance report noted a complaint regarding the landing gear warning horn, post-accident inspections confirmed the system was functioning correctly. The crew reported they did not hear the horn or notice the red warning light during the approach.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the student pilot's failure to select the landing gear to the down position.
- The student pilot failed to complete all required memory items during the final approach, potentially due to distraction following the instructor's comments regarding gear retraction.
- The instructor failed to sufficiently monitor the student's actions to ensure the gear was extended.
- Reduced visibility of the green gear indicators due to the use of navigation lights during daylight hours may have contributed to the error.