Wheels-up landing involving Piper PA28R-200 at Rand Aerodrome

Casualties unknown • Runway 35 at Rand Aerodrome, ZA

A private flight involving a Piper PA28R-200 resulted in a gear-up landing at Rand Aerodrome after the pilot failed to extend the landing gear.

What happened

On 10 October 2007, a Piper PA28R-200, registration ZS-BJH, was conducting a private flight departing from Rand Aerodrome in Gauteng. The flight, which included the pilot and one passenger, was intended to visit the general flying area before returning to the same airfield. During the flight, the pilot performed several stall turns, including one maneuver performed with the landing gear extended.

As the aircraft approached runway 35 for landing, the pilot selected full flaps at an indicated airspeed of 80 knots. Although the pilot believed the landing gear had been lowered and confirmed seeing three green lights, the aircraft actually touched down with the gear in the retracted position. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries following the incident. The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller blade tips, the forward fuselage undersurface, the nose landing-gear doors, and the inboard aft tips of the trailing edge flaps.

Probable cause

The pilot neglected to lower the landing gear prior to landing, resulting in a gear-up touchdown.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2007-10-10 Piper PA28R-200 accident near Runway 35 at Rand Aerodrome, ZA?

A private flight involving a Piper PA28R-200 resulted in a gear-up landing at Rand Aerodrome after the pilot failed to extend the landing gear.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2007-10-10 involved a Piper PA28R-200, registration ZS-BJH, at Runway 35 at Rand Aerodrome, ZA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot neglected to lower the landing gear prior to landing, resulting in a gear-up touchdown.

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