What happened
On 21 June 2010, a Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow, registration N171JB, was conducting a private flight from Kirknewton Airfield to Oban Airport with two passengers on board. During the approach, the pilot configured the aircraft for landing by extending the landing gear, noting three green lights indicating the gear was down and locked.
Upon arrival at Oban, the pilot noticed the right main gear indication lights illuminate. Due to bright sunlight, the lights were difficult to observe clearly. The pilot initially attempted a go-around but subsequently decided to proceed with the landing while the gear was in the process of retracting. As the aircraft touched down, the pilot felt a bump as the right wheel made contact with the runway. The aircraft continued to descend, and as the pilot relaxed pressure on the control column to level the aircraft, a protrusion from the fuselage struck the ground. The aircraft then skidded for roughly 100 metres. There were no injuries to the pilot or passengers.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the configuration of the aircraft at the moment of impact. Investigators examined the aircraft and found that the nose gear doors were still open, confirming that the gear was in the retracting position during the landing. The damage sustained by the N171JB included the propeller, nose gear doors, fuselage, and the left wing flap.