C402 PLT RPTR STATES THAT IN THE FLARE HE FELT LIKE HE WAS LOSING CTL AND CAME TO REST ON THE S PORTION OF THE ARPT RWY. AFTER DEPLANING; RPTR SAW THAT THE LNDG GEAR WAS COLLAPSED AND DOESN'T KNOW WHY.

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SINCE 1969; I HAVE BEEN EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGE OF A PVT PLT. SINCE THAT DATE I HAVE FLOWN AROUND APPROX 1200 INCIDENT- ACCIDENT-FREE HRS. I HAVE ENJOYED THE PLEASURE OF BEING A PVT PLT; ALWAYS KEEPING IN MIND THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF SAFETY TAUGHT BY MY INITIAL FLT INSTRUCTORS. IN SEPTEMBER 1997; A C402 WAS PURCHASED AND REGISTERED UNDER MY NAME FOR PERSONAL AND PVT USE. I FLEW THE ACFT AROUND 45 HRS; ACCOMPANIED BY A QUALIFIED PLT IN THE ACFT TYPE AND CATEGORY. ON DEC/XA/97 I LET MYSELF GET CARRIED AWAY BY THE FREEDOM OF FLYING AND DECIDED THAT I WAS PROFICIENT ENOUGH TO FLY THE ACFT MYSELF 'ALONE IN THE ACFT.' WHILE ON THE FIRST PHASE OF THE LNDG PORTION 'FLARE;' I LOST CTL AND CAME AT REST ON THE S PORTION OF THE MAYAGUEZ ARPT RWY. AFTER I DEPLANED THE ACFT; I NOTICED THAT THE LNDG GEAR WAS COLLAPSED. UP TO TODAY; I'M UNCERTAIN OF WHAT WENT WRONG. ALL I'M SURE OF IS THAT I WENT THROUGH THE COMPLETE CHKLIST (BEFORE LNDG PROCS). THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN MECHANICAL FAILURE OR NEGLIGENCE ON MY PART. I DO RECOGNIZE THAT I WAS NOT QUALIFIED TO OPERATE THE ACFT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE FLOWN AN ACFT WITHOUT BEING QUALIFIED TO DO SO. NEVERTHELESS; THIS WON'T EVER HAPPEN AGAIN. I WILL BE SURE THAT I HAVE BEEN RATED AND PROFICIENT TO ACT AS PIC.