Accident Overview
On 29 August 2011, a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, registration LY-PTC, was engaged in training flights at Paluknės aerodrome. The aircraft had returned from Vilnius International Airport after instrument training. The crew consisted of a student pilot (Ukrainian national) and an instructor pilot (Lithuanian national) who acted as pilot-in-command. The approach and landing procedure initially proceeded normally. During the final landing, after the student pilot moved the control column forward to lower the nose, the crew felt the propellers strike the ground. The aircraft then slid on its belly, coming to a stop after 110 meters. Both pilots exited the aircraft safely after shutting down electrical power and fuel valves. No injuries occurred.
Flight History
The landing attempt was the second approach of the day. During the first approach, the student pilot maintained excessive speed on the glideslope, prompting the instructor to order a go-around. The aircraft flew a right-hand circuit for a second attempt. The crew reported that before the third turn, the student extended the flaps to +15° and lowered the landing gear, confirming three green indicator lights. After the fourth turn, flaps were set to the landing position. The aircraft was flown at 90 knots on final approach.
Accident Sequence
After flaring and holding the nose off, the crew began to lower the nose by moving the control column forward. At that moment, the propellers struck the ground. The aircraft then slid on its lower fuselage for 110 meters, veering about 45° to the left of the landing direction. The landing gear handle was later found in the "down" position, and the gear motor circuit breaker had tripped. No tire marks or grass residue were found on the wheels or gear struts, suggesting the gear was not locked down before touchdown.
Post-Accident Examination
Inspection of the accident site revealed propeller strike marks starting 138 meters from the threshold. The propellers were folded back. The lower fuselage skin was deformed and cracked in several places. The nose gear doors were slightly bent, the anti-collision light and antennas were broken, and the air intake was damaged. The landing gear motor circuit breaker was found tripped. The supplementary stall and gear-up warning system activated on low throttle, but the crew stated they had reduced power normally for landing.
Analysis
The investigation, conducted solely by the Head of Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation, noted that the landing gear handle was in the down position but the circuit breaker had tripped. The absence of ground marks from the wheels and the fact that the gear was found partially extended suggested that the gear was not fully locked down before touchdown. The investigator hypothesised that the crew attempted to extend the gear after ground contact, causing the motor to overload and trip the breaker. The busy air traffic at the aerodrome, including a Cessna 152 and five gliders, may have diverted the crew's attention from cockpit checks.
Probable Cause
No probable cause was officially stated in the report. The investigator's analysis indicated that the landing gear was not fully extended prior to touchdown, but no definitive causal factor was assigned.