The wheels-up landing of a Beech A36 is a good example of how pilot ‘distraction, pre-occupation, channelized attention or panic’ can lead to dangerous outcomes.
On 12 November 2012 a Beech A36 aircraft, VH-SQI (SQI) was conducting a fire inspection flight. On board were the pilot and one passenger. The aircraft took off from Meekatharra, WA bound for Kumarina where it conducted a 45-minute flight to observe nearby fires.
At about 0850 the pilot and passenger prepared to depart Kumarina for further inspection of fires in the area. During the take-off run, the forward cabin door, located next to the passenger, opened. The pilot elected to continue his take-off. The passenger was slightly alarmed by the opening of the door, but the pilot reassured him that it was fine and that they would return and land.
Just before landing the pilot realised that he had not done his pre-landing checks and had forgotten to lower the landing gear.
The pilot conducted a tighter and lower-than-normal circuit to expedite the landing, and decided to leave the aircraft in the take-off configuration to reduce his workload. He did, however, retract the landing gear. During the shorter circuit the pilot focused on locating a communications tower north of the runway within the circuit area. The pilot commented that he felt pressured and did not conduct his normal downwind and pre-landing checks as he believed the aircraft was already configured for landing.
Just before landing the pilot realised that he had not done his pre-landing checks and had forgotten to lower the landing gear. The plane landed with the wheels up and skidded to a halt about 200m down the runway. The pilot and passenger were uninjured, but the plane was substantially damaged.
The pilot reported that fatigue and workload may have contributed to the accident. He had flown the previous day and stayed at Meekathara overnight due to the approach of last light, and had started duty on the day of the accident at 0400 in the morning. The pilot also reported the workload of handling the abnormal situation, his concern about the passenger, a potential obstruction in the circuit, and his decision to rush the circuit all contributed to missing his downwind and final pre-landing checks and failure to lower and confirm the position of the landing gear.
Read the report: Wheels up landing involving Beech A36, VH-SQI, Kumarina Roadhouse airstrip, Western Australia, on 12 November 2012