ERA17LA189

The commercial pilot reported that the flight was concluding at the end of his 17-hour duty day. He stated that he did not confirm a safe landing gear indication before landing and that the airplane subsequently landed with the landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot also stated that fatigue and self-induced distractions contributed to the accident, and that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

On May 24, 2017, about 0100 eastern daylight time, a Beechcraft BE-58, N9132S, was substantially damaged during a gear-up landing at Augusta Regional Airfield (AGS), Augusta, Georgia. The commercial pilot was not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed. The on-demand cargo flight departed Chicago Executive Airport (PWK), Chicago, Illinois, was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135.The pilot stated he departed on a personal flight at 0715. Later in the day, he accepted a Part 135 flight with an expected departure time of 1630, but the departure was delayed until 2000. The pilot stated that while on approach he did not extend the landing gear at the final approach fix, which was standard procedure, and he failed to confirm a safe landing gear indication before landing. He reported that their no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He also reported that he was fatigued, and his attempts to contact the fixed base operator during approach distracted him. On scene examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the wing ribs and stringers. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA second class medical certificate was issued August 11, 2016. The pilot reported 14,000 total hours of flight experience, of which 6,000 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. The six-seat, low-wing, retractable tricycle-gear airplane was manufactured in 1976 and was powered by two Continental, IO-520, 285-horsepower engines. The airplane's most recent inspection was completed on May 9, 2017, at 13,247 total aircraft hours. At 0053, recorded weather at AGS included an overcast ceiling at 700 feet, calm wind, and 10 miles of visibility. The temperature was 21° C, the dew point was 20° C, and the altimeter setting was 29.69 inches of mercury.