What happened
During a morning recreational flight departing from Tampa Airport, a twin engine airplane experienced a critical mechanical oversight during its final approach. The pilot neglected to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown. As the aircraft touched down on the runway, the propeller made contact with the pavement.
Following the initial impact, the pilot attempted an aborted landing procedure by initiating a go-around. However, due to the damage sustained by the propeller during the wheels-up landing, the aircraft was unable to maintain sufficient altitude. The plane subsequently lost height and descended into Tampa Bay.
All six occupants on board were successfully rescued from the wreckage. While the aircraft was destroyed in the accident, the passengers and crew sustained only minor injuries.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the primary cause of the accident was a landing gear omission followed by a controlled collision with water during the go-around attempt. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Failure to deploy the landing gear during the approach phase
- Inability to maintain altitude during the go-around maneuver resulting from propeller damage