What happened
On February 6, 2009, at approximately 17:40 local time, a private Piper PA-34-220T Seneca IV, registration YV2492, was on approach to Barinas Airport (SVBI) in Venezuela. During the landing preparations, the pilot noticed that the indicator light for the left main landing gear remained unlit, signaling that the gear had not locked into place.
After receiving authorization to use the auxiliary runway 04/22 to minimize potential disruptions to regular airport operations, the pilot proceeded with the landing. The aircraft touched down with the left main gear partially extended. Upon impact, the left main gear collapsed backward, causing the aircraft to slide off the left side of the runway due to inertia and the lack of support on that side. The aircraft eventually came to a stop facing west.
The pilot and one passenger were uninjured during the event. However, the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including the collapse of the left main gear, structural damage to the flaps near the fuselage, a bent propeller blade tip, and the loss of the left landing gear door and pitot tube.