What happened
On October 2, 1970, an Aero-Commander 680-T, registration HB-GEK, was conducting a local IFR training flight at Geneva-Cointrin Airport. The flight was operated by a pilot holding a valid American commercial license with a Swiss validation, accompanied by a qualified co-pilot.
Despite challenging weather conditions—including heavy rain, moderate turbulence, and gusty winds—the crew successfully completed an ILS approach and landed on runway 23. During the post-landing procedures, while the aircraft was taxiing toward taxiway 6, the left main landing gear collapsed. The impact caused the left engine propeller and the lower fuselage to contact the ground, resulting in the aircraft swerving 90 degrees to the left and coming to a halt on the runway. There were no injuries to the crew, though the aircraft sustained severe damage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and the cockpit controls immediately following the event. The investigation confirmed that the landing gear lever was in the "down" position, but the left gear leg had partially retracted. The flaps had been retracted, and all electrical switches were in the "off" position.
Review of the crew's credentials showed that the pilot was legally permitted to fly the aircraft under the supervision of the qualified co-pilot. Furthermore, there was no evidence to suggest that the aircraft was mechanically unsound prior to the incident or that the pilot was unfit for flight.