What happened
On November 1, 2015, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registration N3024N, was performing a ferry flight from Montevideo (SUAA) to Salto International Airport (SUSO). The aircraft was carrying a pilot and four passengers.
During the landing sequence on runway 23, the aircraft contacted the runway surface with its landing gear still in the retracted position. The fuselage and propeller made contact with the pavement for approximately 30 meters, causing visible damage to the propeller tips and flaps. As the aircraft gained momentum, it lifted slightly, but as the landing gear began to extend, the aircraft veered to the right. The left wing struck an airport visual aid sign, which was destroyed in the process, before the aircraft came to a final stop on the runway shoulder.
All five occupants evacuated the aircraft safely and sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The CIAIA investigation focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft and the pilot's operational procedures. Investigators examined the aircraft's hydraulic system, which controls the retractable tricycle gear. Tests conducted after the accident showed that while the nose and left gear functioned correctly, the right main gear could not be extended independently during testing.
The investigation also reviewed the pilot's credentials and flight discipline. While the pilot was highly experienced with over 1,900 total flight hours, it was noted that his Uruguayan medical certificate had expired. Crucially, investigators found that the pilot did not use the manufacturer's required operating checklists during the flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure to use the manufacturer's checklists during the landing phase, which resulted in the landing gear remaining retracted.
- The pilot relied on memory rather than following the established operating procedures, leading to the omission of the gear extension sequence.
- The aircraft's hydraulic system sequence (nose, then left, then right gear) was not properly managed due to the lack of procedural adherence.
- The pilot's Uruguayan medical certification was not up to date at the time of the occurrence.