20200425004569I

On April 25, 2020, a Piper comanche PA-24-250 was flown from wiley post airport (kpwa), bethany, Oklahoma to Sundance Airpark (khsd), Yukon, Oklahoma to obtain fuel. No flight plan was filed, no weather briefing was obtained and the aircraft was flown VFR for the estimated 5 minute flight. Upon arriving at khsd, the aircraft landed with gear up on the runway. No injuries were reported and no other occupants were aboard the aircraft. The pilot was interviewed and submitted a written statement in which he stated on final approach he lowered the landing gear and obtained a green light indicating his gear was down and locked. Upon landing, the propeller struck the runway and at this point, the pilot stated he believed the landing gear must not have fully extended despite the green light down and locked indication in the cockpit. He then exited the aircraft and examined the landing gear and found the gear was partially extended and not in the wheel well. Once the aircraft was elevated on air bags as a part of the aircraft recovery, the pilot stated he reset the landing gear circuit breaker, which had popped, and the green landing gear light appeared indicating the landing gear was down and locked when in actuality it was not. The landing gear was then lowered without problems and towed to a hangar.

Upon investigation, the evidence supports that the aircraft landed with the gear in the retracted position. This finding is supported by inspection of the aircraft damage which supports the gear being fully retracted due to no damage being sustained to the main landing gear doors, struts, or wheels which would be apparent had the landing gear been even partially in the down position. There was also no damage sustained to the nose landing gear door, strut, and wheel, which is again consistent with the landing gear being in the retracted position.