What happened
During a local test flight following recent maintenance work, an aircraft was conducting maneuvers near Bangkok-Don Mueang Airport. Shortly after departing the runway, the crew experienced a malfunction involving the left main gear while the aircraft was in its initial climb phase.
Following communication with air traffic control, the flight crew determined that an immediate return to the airport was necessary. The aircraft executed a turn to align with the runway and subsequently performed a belly landing. The aircraft came to a stop on the main runway, where it sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
- The incident occurred during a post-maintenance inspection flight.
- A technical issue with the left landing gear was the primary driver for the emergency procedure.
- There were zero fatalities and zero injuries reported, as both pilots successfully evacuated the aircraft.