Flight and Landing
A jet airplane on a business flight was landing at its destination after an uneventful flight. The pilot reported the airport in sight to the tower controller and requested to land. While on left base, he began lowering the flaps and moved the landing gear handle to the down position. He did not recall confirming that the gear was down and locked, but reported no caution annunciations or aural warnings.
Accident Sequence
Before making contact with the runway, the pilot noticed the airplane floated longer than expected. Upon touchdown, he realized the landing gear was not extended. The airplane skidded down the runway and came to a stop just past the departure end. The pilot secured the engines and assisted the passengers out. During the evacuation, the pilot reported fire near the right engine; shortly thereafter, the airplane was engulfed in flames.
Post-Accident Examination
When the airplane was raised for recovery, all three landing gear were free from their uplocks and dropped to the extended position. Post-accident examination confirmed the main landing gear uplocks were in the gear release (unlocked) position. The left main landing gear door was partially extended on the airplane after it came to rest. The landing gear handle was observed in the down (extended) position. Accounting for the uplock positions, the gear door, and witness observations, it is likely the pilot positioned the gear handle down just before or during landing. Nevertheless, he failed to ensure the gear was down and locked. Examination of the gear handle and circuit cards revealed no anomalies.
Approach and Warning System
A review of ADS-B data showed the airplane's airspeed was fast on approach. Ground speed was about 143 knots as it passed the runway threshold, above the 130-knot threshold for the landing gear not extended warning system. Additionally, the flaps were likely in the takeoff/approach setting (15°), which would not activate the warning. Stabilized approach criteria for airspeed and configuration were not maintained.
Probable Cause
The failure of the pilot to ensure the landing gear was extended before landing. Contributing was the pilot’s failure to fly a stabilized approach, and his configuration of the airplane that prevented activation of the landing gear not extended warning system on final approach.