What happened
On March 24, 2026, a Beechcraft A36 Bonanza with registration LV-KHR departed from Isla Martín García at 20:00 local time. The aircraft was operating as a non-commercial, recreational flight under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) during daylight hours. After approximately twenty minutes of flight, the pilot initiated the traffic pattern for Runway 23 at San Fernando International Airport in Buenos Aires Province.
During the landing phase, the aircraft made contact with the runway surface while the landing gear was retracted. This abnormal runway contact resulted in minor damage to the airframe. The pilot, a private pilot-in-command, exited the aircraft without injury. There were no other persons on board or on the ground affected by the incident.
The investigation
The Argentine Transportation Safety Board (JST) examined the sequence of events leading to the abnormal landing. The inquiry focused on the operational procedures followed during the approach and landing phase. Key elements reviewed included the pilot's adherence to checklists and their response to in-flight alerts. The investigation established that the aircraft was airworthy prior to departure, with a Continental (Teledyne) engine having 1,792 total hours.
Findings
The primary causal factor identified was the failure to complete the required pre-landing checklist. Specifically, the pilot omitted the verification of landing gear position. Additionally, the investigation noted that the pilot did not recognize or respond to the audible warnings associated with the gear being in the retracted position during the approach.
Safety action
The preliminary report highlights the critical importance of strict adherence to standard operating procedures, particularly checklist compliance during critical flight phases. It underscores the need for enhanced crew resource management and situational awareness regarding automated warning systems to prevent similar occurrences.