Incident Overview
On 24 November 2020, at approximately 14:55 local time, a Piper PA-44-180, registration 9A-DZG, operated by the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, landed at Lučko Aerodrome with its landing gear retracted. The aircraft was completing a training flight consisting of six traffic patterns; the fifth pattern involved a maximum-flap landing. After receiving landing clearance, the aircraft touched down on runway 10R without the landing gear extended. The unusual deceleration alerted the air traffic controller, who used binoculars to confirm the gear was not down and informed the pilots by radio. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft was a Piper PA-44-180 Seminole, serial number 44-7995036, built in 1978. It was powered by two Lycoming O-360-E1A6D engines. The aircraft had accumulated 1,362 hours total time at the time of the incident.
On board were two persons: a flight instructor (male, born 1957) seated in the right front seat, and a student pilot (male, born 1997) in the left front seat. The instructor held a valid CPL(A) license with multiple ratings and had 7,437 total flight hours, including 619 on type. The student had 170 total flight hours, with 3.5 hours on the PA-44. Both held valid medical certificates.
Damage
The aircraft sustained damage typical of a gear-up landing: abrasion to the lower fuselage skin and antennas, damage to the left flap, the boarding step, and both propeller blades. Minor grooves were created on the runway surface. No other damage occurred.
Injuries
Neither occupant reported any injuries.
Cause
The official investigation determined that the incident was caused by human factor.