Incident Overview
On 2 February 2024, at approximately 07:58 UTC, a Diamond DA-42 NG aircraft registered as TC-SGS, operated by Atlantik Uçuş Okulu A.Ş., sustained a serious incident when it landed on its fuselage at Tekirdağ Çorlu Atatürk Airport (LTBU). The flight was a CPL-5B training mission. The aircraft was owned by Sigma Havacılık Sanayii Ticaret A.Ş.
Flight History
According to pilot statements, the flight departed from Tekirdağ Çorlu Atatürk Airport at 07:30 UTC under visual flight rules (VFR). The crew intended to perform a simulated single-engine landing during an initial circuit. During the final approach, the student pilot had difficulty aligning with the runway. The instructor pilot then discussed the errors and corrective actions, which caused a delay in completing the before-landing checklist. As a result, the crew realized they had not extended the landing gear while on final approach. To avoid a more serious accident, they decided not to attempt a go-around and instead executed a belly landing on Runway 04.
Occupants and Aircraft
The flight crew consisted of an instructor pilot (ATPL holder, total flight time 15,937:05 hours) and a student pilot (PPL(A) holder, total flight time 169:05 hours). Both were male Turkish nationals. The aircraft, a Diamond DA-42 NG (serial number 42.N045, manufactured in 2011), had a maximum takeoff weight of 1900 kg and a total flight time of 2575 hours. It was equipped with two Austro E4B engines and MT Propeller MTV-6-R-C-F/CF 187-129 propellers. The aircraft's maintenance records showed no open discrepancies, all airworthiness directives and service bulletins were complied with, and the weight and balance were within limits.
Damage
The post-incident inspection revealed light damage: damage to the lower fuselage, nose and right landing gear doors, and both propellers. No injuries were reported among the two occupants or on the ground.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that maintenance, weight and balance, and meteorological factors were not contributors to the incident. The crew's failure to extend the landing gear during the approach was identified as the direct operational error. The official probable cause was not explicitly stated in the available report.