What happened
During the landing phase, the right main landing gear downlock pin retracted either immediately before or during the moment of touchdown. The aircraft made contact with the ground approximately 21 feet before reaching the start of the runway. Following this short distance, the plane proceeded down the entire 6,999-foot runway and continued for an additional quarter-mile beyond the pavement.
The excursion ended when the aircraft came to a stop on a golf course after encountering a ditch, a fence, and a patch of glassy water. Despite the significant excursion and the collapse of the gear, all four occupants were able to exit the plane and sustained no injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the mechanical state of the aircraft revealed no evidence of hydraulic, electrical, or mechanical malfunctions prior to the touchdown. The primary contributing factors identified include the following:
- An inadvertent gear retraction performed by the co-pilot.
- Failure by the pilot in command to follow established procedures and directives.
- The impact with terrain features, specifically a ditch and a fence, during the ground roll.