What happened
On 30 June 2008, a Piper PA-32R-300 Cherokee Lance, registration N38945, was performing a private flight at North Weald Airfield in Essex. Following two successful touch-and-go landings, the pilot began the approach for a third landing. During the downwind leg of the circuit, the pilot noted another aircraft ahead and requested its position from the air/ground operator. The operator subsequently reported that the other aircraft was actually behind the N38945, followed by a "downwind" call from that aircraft.
As the pilot transitioned to the final approach, they began slowing the aircraft and configuring the flaps. During the flare, the pilot heard a scraping sound coming from beneath the aircraft. Upon inspection, the pilot observed that while the landing gear lever was in the down position, the three green lights indicating gear extension were not illuminated. The aircraft subsequently slid on its underside, veered to the right, and came to a stop in the grass adjacent to the runway. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, flaps, pitot tube, and the underside of the wing and fuselage.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation focused on the pilot's configuration checks and the functionality of the landing gear. The pilot stated that their standard procedure involved checking the gear and flaps during the downwind leg, specifically looking for "reds, blues, and three greens." The pilot noted that they believed the gear lever had been moved to the down position but admitted that distraction during the circuit may have prevented a final verification of the green lights.
Following the accident, an engineering company at the airfield inspected the landing gear system of the N38945. This examination revealed no mechanical faults within the landing gear system itself.
Findings
- The pilot became distracted by radio communications regarding the position of other aircraft in the circuit.
- The pilot failed to verify the extension of the landing gear via the cockpit indicator lights during the approach.
- The landing gear system was found to be fully functional and free of mechanical defects.