What happened
On January 10, 2014, at approximately 2:09 p.m., a Beechcraft Baron BE-58, registration N475BS, was involved in a serious incident during landing at La Isabela International Airport (MDJB) in the Dominican Republic. The aircraft was performing a private flight following a maintenance visit to San Isidro Air Base for air conditioning repairs.
After the aircraft made contact with the runway, the pilot began performing the post-landing checklist. During this sequence, the pilot mistakenly operated the landing gear lever instead of the flap lever. This action caused the landing gear to retract while the aircraft was still on the runway. The aircraft traveled approximately 210.4 meters on its belly before coming to a stop. The two occupants of the aircraft were uninjured and able to evacuate on their own.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical systems, maintenance records, and the pilot's actions. The investigation confirmed that the landing gear system was fully functional, as the gear properly extended and locked during subsequent testing. The investigation also noted that the airport's operations department took over two hours to remove the aircraft from the runway following the event.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was pilot error, specifically the accidental activation of the landing gear retraction lever during the post-landing checklist.
- The aircraft sustained damage to the propellers of both engines and denting to the lower fuselage due to the impact with the asphalt.
- Meteorological conditions at the time of the incident were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km and light winds.
- The aircraft's maintenance records showed the plane was airworthy and had recently undergone a 100-hour inspection.