What happened
On April 27, 2001, a Cessna 172 RG, registration EC-HHX, was conducting a dual-instruction flight involving engine-failure simulations. The flight originated from Cuatro Vientos airport, following a planned route through several waypoints including Ocaña, Lillo, and La Mancha. Prior to the incident, the crew had successfully completed a similar engine-out simulation at Lillo.
Upon arriving at the La Mancha Aerodrome, the crew attempted to repeat the engine-failure maneuver. During the approach, the pilot performed a simulated engine shutdown. While the touchdown was described as smooth, the aircraft landed with the landing gear retracted. The impact resulted in damage to the propeller, the lower fuselage, and the right wingtip.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the landing gear configuration error. Investigators reviewed the flight path and the specific maneuvers being practiced by the instructor and student. The investigation established that the flight was a routine training session under favorable meteorological conditions, with visibility exceeding 10 kilometers and no significant wind gusts reported.
Findings
- The crew failed to execute the landing checklist prior to touchdown at La Mancha Aerodrome.
- Due to the omission of the checklist, the status of the landing gear was not verified, leading to the inadvertent landing with the gear retracted.
- There were no injuries to the crew members during the occurrence.