| Occurrence Briefs are concise reports that detail the facts surrounding a transport safety occurrence, as received in the initial notification and any follow-up enquiries. They provide an opportunity to share safety messages in the absence of an investigation. |
What happened
On 6 September 2020, a Beechcraft G36 departed Colina for a private flight to Lake Keepit, New South Wales. There was one pilot and five passengers on board.
On arrival at Lake Keepit, ground personnel advised the pilot that there was a glider and tow vehicle on the threshold of runway 14. They had been towed into place to prepare for departure in 30 minutes.
The aircraft then joined midfield crosswind for runway 14. During approach, the pilot became distracted by the glider and tow vehicle on the runway and forgot to complete the approach and landing checklist. As a result, the landing gear was not extended and the aircraft landed with the wheels retracted. The aircraft sustained minor damage to the underbelly and propeller (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Aircraft after landing
Source: The Gliding Federation of Australia
Safety message
This incident highlights the importance of managing distractions and being vigilant during critical phases of flight. Distractions can result in critical tasks being omitted and not being detected until it is too late.
Wheels-up landings are not uncommon; the Flight Safety Australia article, Those who won’t: avoiding gear-up landings includes valuable information to assist pilots in avoiding these incidents.
In addition to landing wheels up, the aircraft landed on an occupied runway. Pilots need to ensure the runway is clear before conducting an approach to land.
About this report
Decisions regarding whether to conduct an investigation, and the scope of an investigation, are based on many factors, including the level of safety benefit likely to be obtained from an investigation. For this occurrence, no investigation has been conducted and the ATSB did not verify the accuracy of the information. A brief description has been written using information supplied in the notification and any follow-up information in order to produce a short summary report, and allow for greater industry awareness of potential safety issues and possible safety actions.