What happened
On 8 October 2008, a Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow II, registration G-GYMM, was conducting a private flight at Old Warden Airfield in Bedfordshire. During the initial approach to Runway 03, the pilot observed vehicles moving near the runway and decided to execute a go-around. During this maneuver, the pilot advanced the throttle and attempted to silence a cockpit alarm by manipulating a switch, believing the noise was related to the gear status. When the alarm persisted, the pilot incorrectly assumed the switch had failed and proceeded with the maneuver.
Following the aborted landing, the pilot repositioned the aircraft for a second approach to Runway 21. During this descent, an alarm sounded, which the pilot interpreted as an indication of low throttle position. It was only moments before touchdown that the pilot identified the true nature of the alarm: the landing gear was still in the retracted position. Although the pilot immediately attempted to extend the gear, the aircraft made contact with the runway before the wheels could be deployed, resulting in a bent propeller, engine shock loading, and minor damage to the flaps. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
way The investigation focused on the pilot's interpretation of the cockpit warning systems and the sequence of events during the go-around. Investigators established that the alarm heard during the second approach was actually the landing gear warning, which is designed to alert the crew when the gear is up and engine power is significantly reduced. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's actions regarding the gear switch and the assumption that the system was malfunctioning.