What happened
On August 17, 2014, a Beechcraft 95-B55, registration PT-LYG, was performing a visual traffic pattern training flight between Aeródromo Piquet and Aeródromo Botelho in Brasília, Brazil. During the first circuit for landing on runway 14, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear to the down position, leaving it in the up position.
As the aircraft transitioned through the base leg, the landing gear warning alarm began to sound. The pilot, intending to wait for the airspeed to drop below 153kt to protect the equipment, decided to delay the gear extension. During the final approach, the pilot focused on maintaining alignment, airspeed, and descent rate, performing a final cockpit check that included the propeller, mixture, flaps, and landing gear. However, despite the continuous sounding of the gear warning alarm, the pilot proceeded with the landing as if the checks had been successful.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft floated approximately 50 to 100 meters beyond the expected point. The pilot heard a brief, strange noise followed by a louder impact, causing the aircraft to veer to the left. Believing a tire had burst, the pilot applied heavy right rudder and braking to maintain the centerline. It was only after the aircraft came to a complete stop that the pilot realized the landing gear had not been deployed. The impact caused substantial damage to the propellers, engines, and the lower fuselage.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation established that the pilot was flying a training mission without a filed flight plan or flight notification. The investigation examined the aircraft's configuration, noting that the propeller blades showed symmetrical backward deformation, indicating low engine power at the moment of impact because the pilot had reduced power during the transition to the flare. The investigation also confirmed that the pilot was qualified, with valid medical and technical certifications, though possessing relatively low flight experience (75 total hours, with 28 hours in the specific model).