20160710010939I

On July 10, 2016, about 1830 eastern standard time (EST) (1030Z), a Beechcraft baron 58P, N7SS, landed wheels up on runway 21 at Eagle Creek Airpark (keye), Indianapolis, Indiana while attempting to make a go around after a practice instrument approach. The pilot in command, safety pilot, and two passengers were not injured. No ground injuries were reported. The airplane sustained minor damage. The airplane was registered to N7SS LLC and operated by the private owner under the provisions of title 14 code of federal regulations (CFR) part 91 as a personal operation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed but was cancelled on the practice instrument approach. The flight departed from john c. tune airport (kjwn), nashville, Tennessee, about 1700 EST and was destined for eye.

The pilot had successfully flown the localizer 21 into eye, with a low approach only. He flew the missed and set up for the rnav/gps 21. The pilot was established on the approach and put the landing gear and approach flaps down at the final approach fix. He came down to decision height on a stabilized approach but remembered the sun shining in brightly from the west, through the co-pilot window. As he was beginning the landing flare , the safety pilot thought she noticed the gear indicator was not showing 3 green and informed the pilot. The pilot advised he would do a go around and attempted to configure the plane for go around. He increased power and retracted the gear too soon and the plane settled onto the runway. The aircraft slid for several hundred feet and came to a stop on the runway but left of the center line. Witnesses on the ground stated they saw the gear down and then saw the gear being retracted just above the runway. The pilot believes the sun giving the appearance of no green lights and his decision to retract the gear before the aircraft established a positive rate of climb were the cause of the incident.