History of Flight
On 20 September 2021 at 1702Z, a Gates Learjet 35A, registration ZS-SFV, departed Cape Town International Airport (FACT) on a private flight to Lanseria International Airport (FALA). The flight was conducted under instrument flight rules (IFR) by night and in accordance with Part 91 of the Civil Aviation Regulations. The crew consisted of two pilots (a captain and a first officer) and three passengers. The captain, aged 47, held an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) with 4,736.6 total flying hours including 382.9 hours on the Learjet 35A. The first officer, aged 40, also held an ATPL with 3,459.7 total hours and 705.7 hours on type.
During the cruise, descent, and landing phases, the crew experienced a sequence of defects that interrupted their pre-landing checklist procedures. As a result, the landing gear lever was not selected down, and the aircraft landed with its landing gear retracted. The airplane skidded on its belly and came to rest approximately 2 kilometers from the threshold of Runway 25 at FALA. The accident occurred at 1840Z.
Injuries and Damage
None of the five occupants were injured during the accident sequence. The aircraft, however, sustained substantial damage.
Probable Cause and Contributory Factors
The investigation determined the probable cause to be the crew forgetting to lower the landing gear, leading to a landing with the gear retracted. Contributing factors included increased pilot workload due to multiple instrument failures during the flight, distraction from recurring defects, failure to consult the pre-landing checklist, an unserviceable landing gear warning horn, and poor maintenance.