What happened
On 11 July 2007, a Rockwell Commander 112TC, registration G-ERIC, was performing a private flight when it arrived at Cranfield Airport. During the approach to Runway 21, the pilot observed that the right main landing gear was not indicating as down and locked. Although the pilot attempted an immediate go-around, the aircraft's momentum prevented a successful climb, and it touched down on the runway with the landing gear in an unsafe configuration.
As the aircraft decelerated during the landing roll, the nose and left main landing gear collapsed. This structural failure caused the aircraft to veer toward the left side of the runway. The impact resulted in damage to the nose cowl, the propeller, and the left wing. There were no injuries to the pilot or the two passengers on board, and all occupants were able to exit the aircraft through the cabin doors without difficulty.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the landing gear configuration and the pilot's pre-landing procedures. The pilot noted that during the pre-landing checks, the landing gear position indications appeared to show three green lights, leading him to believe the gear was properly extended. However, upon crossing the runway threshold, the discrepancy regarding the right main gear became apparent.