What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
04/12/2023 Flight from flying cloud (kfcm) to Fergus Falls (kffm), 2 people on board, PIC and qualified CFI as a passenger in right seat. On final approach to runway 31 at kffm the landing gear was selected down. The down lock light did not illuminate. The situation was discussed between the PIC and CFI. A go around was discussed but after switching bulbs from another light socket the PIC believed the down lock light was illuminated and made the decision to land. Touchdown of the main landing gear was normal but the nose gear collapsed and the prop struck the runway causing the engine to stop before the aircraft slid to a stop. No injuries and damage was determined to be minor. The CFI opened the aircraft door and reached in the back seat to get his bag prior to exiting the aircraft. At that point he found the emergency gear extension handle was engaged and the strap from his bag had become tightly wound around the handle.
As the FAA filed it
04/12/2023 FLIGHT FROM FLYING CLOUD (KFCM) TO FERGUS FALLS (KFFM), 2 PEOPLE ON BOARD, PIC AND QUALIFIED CFI AS A PASSENGER IN RIGHT SEAT. ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 31 AT KFFM THE LANDING GEAR WAS SELECTED DOWN. THE DOWN LOCK LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE SITUATION WAS DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE PIC AND CFI. A GO AROUND WAS DISCUSSED BUT AFTER SWITCHING BULBS FROM ANOTHER LIGHT SOCKET THE PIC BELIEVED THE DOWN LOCK LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND MADE THE DECISION TO LAND. TOUCHDOWN OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS NORMAL BUT THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE PROP STRUCK THE RUNWAY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP. NO INJURIES AND DAMAGE WAS DETERMINED TO BE MINOR. THE CFI OPENED THE AIRCRAFT DOOR AND REACHED IN THE BACK SEAT TO GET HIS BAG PRIOR TO EXITING THE AIRCRAFT. AT THAT POINT HE FOUND THE EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION HANDLE WAS ENGAGED AND THE STRAP FROM HIS BAG HAD BECOME TIGHTLY WOUND AROUND THE HANDLE.
Other reports on N8478N · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.