Aero Commander 500
Opalocka, FL — March 27, 2020
Event Information
| Date | March 27, 2020 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA20CA148 |
| Event ID | 20200408X62348 |
| Location | Opalocka, FL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 25.90722, -80.28306 |
| Airport | MIAMI-OPA LOCKA EXECUTIVE |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Aero Commander |
| Model | 500 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 135 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | NITE |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear due to distraction and his delayed go-around, which allowed the airplane to get too low and contact the runway with the landing gear retracted.
Full Narrative
At the conclusion of an uneventful flight, the commercial pilot approached the runway for landing. During the landing flare, the airplane landing gear warning horn activated, so the pilot initiated a go around. While climbing to traffic pattern altitude he noticed that the landing gear handle was in the up position. He did not hear or feel the airplane contact the runway. The pilot subsequently landed and departed without incident; however, after landing at another airport he performed a more thorough post-flight inspection of the airplane. He then noticed that the marker beacon antenna was shaved off and the lower fuselage had sustained substantial damage consistent with ground contact.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.