What happened
On April 9, 2001, at approximately 0945Z, a CESSNA 210, registered ZS-KEG, was involved in a landing accident at Lanseria. The aircraft was being operated by a pilot with a commercial license, performing circuit practice maneuvers. Prior to the incident, the pilot had successfully completed two "touch and go" landings. During the third attempt, which was intended to be a short-field landing utilizing full flaps and a low-speed approach, the aircraft struck the runway with its landing gear retracted.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing approach and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The pilot reported that the landing was intended to be a specific short-field technique. Crucially, the pilot noted that the landing gear unsafe warning light failed to activate during the approach, which may have contributed to the oversight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the pilot neglected to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown.
- The aircraft was operating under fine meteorological conditions.
- There were no injuries to the pilot and no fatalities resulting from the event.