What happened
On May 3, 2002, a Mooney M20K, registration ZS-LEW, was involved in a landing incident at Lanseria airport. The aircraft was conducting simulated ILS approaches under the command of a commercial pilot. Following an initial approach, the pilot was unable to immediately return to the beacon due to incoming IFR traffic, resulting in two subsequent touch-and-go landings.
During the following circuit, the pilot delayed lowering the undercarriage in an attempt to return to the beacon. During this phase, Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructed the pilot to yield to two departing aircraft before initiating the base turn. Additionally, the pilot was directed to switch to Runway 06R and was alerted to existing traffic on the final approach for that runway. While managing the visual separation from other aircraft and re-planning the approach with increased power, the landing was completed without the gear being deployed.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of maneuvers and the pilot's workload during the approach. Investigators established that the aircraft was maintained according to prescribed intervals, with only six hours flown since its last maintenance inspection. No mechanical defects or abnormalities were reported by the pilot prior to the event, and the weather conditions at the time were clear.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was that the pilot neglected to lower the undercarriage before touchdown.
- Increased pilot workload contributed to the error, as the crew had to manage traffic separation, respond to ATC instructions regarding departing aircraft, and execute a sudden change in runway assignment.