What happened
On 19 September 2017, a Beech F33A, registration ZS-OGD, departed from the Borneo airstrip in the Timbavati game reserve for a private flight to Lanseria Aerodrome (FALA). During the approach to Lanseria, the pilot performed standard pre-landing checks, which included attempting to extend the undercarriage. However, the green indication lights on the instrument panel failed to illuminate.
In an effort to verify the gear status, the pilot requested permission from Air Traffic Control (ATC) to perform a fly-past of runway 25 so that controllers could visually inspect the landing gear. While ATC reported that the gear appeared to be down, the cockpit indicators remained unconfirmed. The pilot then attempted to manually extend the gear using a hand pump and performed a second fly-past over runway 07. During this second pass, ATC observed that the undercarriage appeared to be only partially extended.
Despite the lack of green lights in the cockpit, the pilot proceeded to land on runway 25. Upon touchdown, the undercarriage collapsed. Although fire services were on standby, there were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its propeller, undercarriage, and underbelly.