What happened
On 24 May 2002, a Beech 95-B55, registration ZS-IMM, was conducting a private flight from Wonderboom Aerodrome toward a private airstrip located in the Brits area. The weather conditions at the time of the occurrence were clear, with good visibility and no wind.
During the final approach, the pilot observed what appeared to be a vehicle positioned near the runway. To prevent a potential collision, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver, which involved retracting the flaps and the undercarriage. During this process, the vehicle moved away from the runway and out of the pilot's line of sight. Following the disappearance of the vehicle, the pilot decided to proceed with the landing. While the flaps were extended for the approach, the pilot neglected to lower the landing gear, resulting in a wheels-up landing.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the approach and the pilot's decision-making process. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was being operated privately and that the pilot was alone on board. The inquiry focused on the sequence of actions taken during the aborted landing attempt and the subsequent decision to land without verifying the gear configuration.
Findings
- The pilot's attention was diverted by the presence of a vehicle near the runway.
- The decision to perform a go-around led to the retraction of the aircraft's undercarriage.
- The pilot failed to re-extend the landing gear during the second approach attempt.
- There were no injuries to the pilot following the incident.