What happened
During the landing phase of a flight, the pilot was operating a turboprop aircraft equipped with retractable landing gear on a paved runway measuring 10,900 feet in length and 150 feet in width. As the pilot approached the runway, the flaps were set to 10 degrees and the landing gear selector was moved to the down position. The cockpit indicators confirmed that the gear was down, locked, and safe for landing.
Following touchdown, the aircraft began its initial landing roll. During this period, the landing gear unexpectedly retracted, causing the aircraft to slide on the underside of its fuselage. The aircraft drifted to the right of the runway centerline, resulting in the right wing striking several runway edge lights. The impact breached the fuel tank in the right wing, which triggered a post-crash fire. The aircraft sustained significant structural damage to the fuselage underside, and the right wing was destroyed. The propeller strike marks began near the initial touchdown point and continued for approximately 2,200 feet until the aircraft reached its final position.
Findings
Post-accident investigations conducted by the NTSB and other safety investigators found no evidence of mechanical failure within the landing gear assembly or its related operating systems prior to the accident. To test the system, the aircraft was placed on jack stands and the hydraulic system was pressurized using a ground power unit. During multiple cycles of the landing gear retraction system, investigators observed no mechanical anomalies.