What happened
On January 21, 2024, a Piper PA28R 201, registration LV-MGT, was conducting a general aviation training flight. The flight originated from La Matanza Aerodrome, traveling toward Morón Aerodrome in the province of Buenos Aires. After approximately 20 minutes of flight under visual meteorological conditions, the aircraft attempted to land on runway 02 at Morón.
During the landing phase, the aircraft experienced an abnormal contact with the runway surface. The incident occurred because the aircraft's landing gear was in the retracted position upon touchdown. The impact resulted in minor damage to the propeller blades and the ventral section of the fuselage. There were no injuries to the pilot during the event.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, the configuration of the aircraft during the landing phase, and the environmental conditions at the time of the occurrence. Investigators confirmed that the weather was clear with visual flight rules (VFR) in effect and calm winds. The aircraft, a 197-year-old model (1978), was found to have a valid certificate of airworthiness and current maintenance documentation. The investigation focused on why the landing gear remained retracted during the approach and touchdown.