19950114002769I

Narrative: investigation is ongoing; source of the malfunction has not been identified as of today's date. See attached narrative. On January 14, 1995, at approximately 1720 hr., while flying T-34A aircraft, registration number N3111C, belonging to leasair, inc.; I was involved in an incident resulting in damage to the aircraft. The flight was a VFR local pleasure flight from David Wayne Hooks airport, spring, Texas and takeoff was at approximately 1640HRS. The weather was reported as clear with twenty miles visibility. This flight began with a one hour and thirty minute briefing of my passenger steve alex. The briefing covered all aspects of the flight including emergency and normal procedures. I also briefed Mr. Alex at the aircraft. This briefing included normal and emergency procedures, emergency egress procedures for inflight, and ground operations. I inspected the aircraft in accordance with the T-34A checklist. Start engine, taxi, takeoff, and flight in the local area were without incident and in accordance with the aircraft operating instructions and FAA directives. The aircraft performed normally without any malfunctions of any of its systems. I contacted the tower for clearance to land at approximately 1710HRS. The tower cleared me to enter the left traffic pattern for runway 35 left. I joined the traffic pattern on left downwind at approximately 1715HRS. I extended the landing gear and checked it down. I elected to use no flaps for landing due to the reported strong prevailing surface wind. I calle dthe tower prior to turning base to be sure I was in fact cleared to land. There was no response; and after several attempts, I concluded I had a defective transmitter. I was receiving radio transmissions normally. There were no other indications of any problems. I extended and widened the down wind leg to try to ascertain what problem(s) existed but I could find no indications of any failure excepting the radio transmitter. I turned back toward the tower at traffic pattern altitude. I flew on the upwind leg west of runway 35 left rocking my wings. At no time did I retract or attempt to retract the landing gear. The tower gave me a steady green light clearing me to land. I turned left to a normal downwind leg and re-checked landing gear down, the landing gear indicators, landing gear handle warning light, and landing gear warning horn. All indications were that the landing gear was down and locked. There were several aircraft in the landing pattern and others attempting to enter. I was concerned withremaining safely clear of all other aircraft and maintained extra vigilance. I turned base leg ahead of a twin engine aircraft approximately three miles on final approach to runway 35 left. I flew a normal base leg and about halfway around it, I realized I was no longer receiving radio transmissions. I turned to final approach and flew a normal approximately three degree glide path with cross wind correction for a left cross wind component. (The wind was 320 degrees at 10 knots.) I made a normal light touchdown slightly left of runway centerline, the left main landing gear touching first then the right. The nose moved slightly left, and I corrected it with right rudder. The nose continued to move very slowly to the left. I corrected with right rudder; and the aircraft began to settle slowly on its landing gear with the nose dropping lower than normal and striking the propeller on the runway. At this point the aircraft settled to the runway with a loud metallic scraping sound and began skidding down the runway uncontrollably from the left lane to the right lane. It came to rest on the right side of the runway with the right wing extending beyond the runway. I safetied all switches while telling the passenger to get out quickly. He utilized the emergency canopy release to deplane, while I deplaned in a normal manner. I asked the passenger if he were injured and he reported that he was not. I was not injured. I re-checked aircraft switches safe and checked the aircraft for damage. The landing gear had collapsed with apparent damage to the landing gear fairing doors, the tires, and the propeller. My passenger and I were picked up by friends and returned to the aircraft's hangar. Report closed.