The pilot told investigators that he was receiving flight instruction and was practicing an instrument approach while using a view-limiting device.
The pilot and flight instructor reported that while on final approach to the airport in Springfield, Missouri, the Piper PA-30’s landing gear lever was lowered.
The pilot could not see if the landing gear was extended, but he did verify that the green landing gear indicating light was illuminated. He then asked the flight instructor to verify that the landing gear was extended.
The flight instructor told investigators that due to the single landing gear indicating light and the brightness of the conditions outside, he could not tell if the landing gear was extended or not. He assumed the landing gear was down because of the increased drag on the airplane.
Upon landing, the airplane scraped along the runway and smoke came into the cockpit. The airplane came to rest upright on the runway, and the pilot and flight instructor exited through the door without further incident.
The flight instructor said that after the accident, the landing gear handle was in the down position and the landing gear circuit breaker was popped.
Post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the lower fuselage.
The landing gear circuit breaker was reset, and the landing gear was raised and lowered without issue. The circuit breaker did not trip again during the examination.
The landing gear up warning horn did not sound when tested by reducing the manifold pressure below 12 inches. Instead, a landing gear indicating light flashed.
The airplane owner said that the landing gear warning horn was not working when he purchased the airplane, and the light was the only indicator to signal that the landing gear was not down.
Maintenance records indicated that an annual inspection was completed in September 2024, about a month before the accident. The landing gear was tested and found to be operating properly during the inspection.
Probable Cause: The flight instructor’s inability to confirm landing gear position before landing due to the sun glare which resulted in gear up landing. Contributing to the accident was an undetected tripped circuit breaker for the landing gear and the inoperative gear warning horn.
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This October 2024 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
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