What happened
On 19 June 1999, a Cessna 210M, registered ZS-MMU, was conducting a flight from Kroonstad to Rand Airport. While operating within a crowded circuit pattern at Rand Airport, the pilot was managing several other aircraft, including a Cessna 172 positioned ahead and multiple aircraft following behind. During the downwind leg of the approach, the pilot extended the landing gear. However, while transitioning to the base leg, the pilot inadvertently retracted the undercarriage while focusing on maintaining separation from surrounding traffic.
As the aircraft progressed on final approach, the pilot became preoccupied with the risk of overtaking the leading Cessna 172. Consequently, the landing gear configuration was not verified. The error was only discovered when the aircraft's propeller made contact with the runway surface during landing.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the mechanical state of the aircraft. Following the incident, the aircraft was recovered, and the undercarriage retraction and extension system was subjected to operational testing. The investigation established that the mechanical components functioned correctly and no technical defects were found in the gear system.
Findings
- The pilot accidentally retracted the landing gear during the base leg of the circuit.
- The pilot failed to verify that the undercarriage was in the down and locked position during the final approach due to high workload and concentration on traffic separation.
- There were no fatalities and no injuries resulting from the incident.