Summary
On 29 December 2015, a Yakovlev Yak 52 (registration SP-YTI) operated by YAK Ticino Sagl was involved in a landing accident at Locarno Airport (LSZL). The aircraft sustained serious damage after touching down with the landing gear not fully extended.
Aircraft and Crew
The aircraft was a single-engine Aerostar YAK 52, owned and operated by YAK Ticino Sagl, based in Lugano. The pilot, a Swiss citizen born in 1940, held a Private Pilot License (PPL(A)) with a total flight time of 1,083 hours, including 109 hours on the type. In the 90 days preceding the accident, the pilot had flown 3 hours and 41 minutes total, with 2 hours and 5 minutes on the Yak 52. The passenger, also a Yak 52 pilot, was seated in the rear cockpit.
Flight Details
The flight was a private visual flight rules (VFR) flight that departed from and was destined for Locarno Airport. The accident occurred during the landing phase at approximately 14:00 local time (UTC+1).
Accident Description
While on long final approach, the pilot activated the landing gear extension lever. The passenger confirmed the operation via intercom. The landing was recorded from inside the cockpit; the audio captured the sound of compressed air during gear extension. However, during the flare, eyewitnesses observed that the landing gear was not fully extended. The aircraft subsequently touched down with the gear in a semi-retracted position, resulting in a gear-up landing.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft was seriously damaged, with a broken propeller, and damage to the engine, landing gear, and airframe requiring inspection. There were no injuries to the pilot or passenger; both were reported as uninjured. Some third-party damage occurred.