Incident
On an approach to land at the destination, the second-in-command was flying the airplane. The aircraft touched down with the landing gear retracted, and the propeller blades contacted the runway. The second-in-command initiated a go-around (aborted landing). Witnesses observed the airplane in a steep left bank just before impact in a river next to the airport.
Investigation Details
Propeller strikes on the runway extended 380 feet, indicating a touchdown speed of 96 knots. The last propeller strikes on the right side indicated a speed of 86 knots. The last strikes on the left side indicated a slowing propeller. The published VMC for the airplane was 94 knots.
The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) tape revealed that the crew completed a descent arrival check, performed an incomplete approach briefing, and did not perform a before-landing check. The CVR revealed no sound of a gear warning horn. Company personnel stated that the circuit breaker for the warning horn had been found pulled at the completion of previous flights by other crew; this was to prevent a warning horn from sounding during a high rate of descent.
Both pilots were killed.
Probable Cause
The probable cause, as stated in the official findings, was the failure of the copilot (second-in-command) to follow the checklist, assure the gear was extended for landing and attain or maintain adequate airspeed (VMC); and failure of the pilot-in-command (PIC) to properly supervise the flight and take sufficient remedial action.