What happened
On 22 August 2005, a Rockwell Commander 112TC, registration G-SAAB, was conducting a private flight when it experienced an accident during its approach to Gamston Airfield in Nottinghamshire. As the aircraft turned onto the final approach, the pilot began lowering the flaps in stages. However, the landing gear remained in the retracted position throughout the landing sequence.
The aircraft subsequently touched down with the gear up, resulting in substantial damage to the propeller, engine, and fuselage. The impact caused severe damage to the propeller and shock-loaded the engine, while the underside of the fuselage, front gear doors, steps, and flap hinges sustained abrasion damage. There were no injuries to the pilot, and the aircraft was vacated without incident or fire.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear. The pilot reported that the aircraft was operating in squally weather conditions, which caused him to become distracted during the approach. Furthermore, the pilot noted that he had omitted the standard downwind and final approach checks.
During the review, it was noted that the pilot's flying experience was primarily on aircraft equipped with fixed landing gear. While this background may have influenced the omission, the investigation found it did not account for the failure to perform routine cockpit checks. The aircraft was not equipped with a landing gear warning system, and the pilot had also neglected to perform a final verification of the mixture, landing gear, and propeller controls using the cockpit placards.