Accident Overview
On August 29, 2018, a Piper PA-30 aircraft, registration LV-IFR, was conducting a multi-engine instructional flight. The flight departed from Morón airport in Buenos Aires province with the intention of practicing at Lobos aerodrome and returning to the departure point. After completing two touch-and-go landings at Lobos, the crew attempted a full-stop landing. During this landing, the aircraft touched down with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft slid approximately 150 meters along the grass runway and came to a stop. Both occupants, a student pilot and a flight instructor, evacuated the aircraft without assistance. The accident occurred during daylight hours in good weather conditions.
Investigation Findings
The investigation was carried out by the Junta de Investigación de Accidentes de Aviación Civil (JIAAC). Examination of the aircraft revealed that the landing gear system functioned normally; no mechanical failure prevented gear extension. The gear warning horn sounded when the throttles were retarded with the gear up, and the amber transit light operated correctly. Both pilots were wearing headsets, and the warning tone was determined to be audible.
The student pilot reported that he had not used the pre-landing checklist during the final approach. The instructor stated that he had verbally reminded the student to lower the landing gear but assumed the action had been completed. Neither pilot recalled hearing the gear warning horn or noticing the amber light before touchdown.
Damage was limited to the propeller blades, which struck the runway surface. The ventral area of the fuselage was not damaged. The aircraft was lifted and the gear extended for removal to a hangar.
Conclusions
The investigation concluded that during the final approach, the flight crew did not use the procedure checklist to verify that all landing items were completed. Both pilots failed to notice the aural and visual warnings indicating the landing gear was still retracted. No other contributing factors were identified.
Probable Cause
The accident occurred because the landing gear was not extended prior to landing due to the omission of the pre-landing checklist and the pilots' failure to heed the gear warning alarms.