GAA19CA398

Factual narrative

The pilot of the retractable landing gear airplane reported that, after takeoff, there was an issue with the alternator. He checked the circuit breakers, which were "in," and decided to land at a nearby airport to have the alternator examined. During approach, he performed a GUMPS check and placed the landing gear handle in the gear extended position. It felt "normal", but he did not remember if he heard the landing gear motor. He did not look outside the high-wing airplane to check the landing gear position and he did not remember seeing the green landing gear position lights. He added that the landing gear warning horn did not sound. He reported that during landing the nose landing gear was down and locked, but the main landing gear were trailing behind the airplane, and the airplane slid to the left side of the runway. The pilot reported that if he knew the gear had not extended, he would have manually pumped the landing gear down. The mechanic reported that when he arrived at the airplane postaccident, the landing gear circuit breaker was popped. They jacked the airplane and repositioned the landing gear. He then turned on the power, pushed in the landing gear circuit breaker, and raised the landing gear. He did not recall hearing the warning horn, but mentioned that the throttle "may have been pushed in." They successfully cycled the landing gear multiple times. The mechanic added that a previous pilot of the accident airplane reported that the landing gear circuit breaker would often pop and he would lower the landing gear with the manual pump. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot of the retractable, landing gear-equipped airplane reported that, after takeoff, there was an issue with the alternator. He checked the circuit breakers, which were "in," and decided to land at a nearby airport to have the alternator examined. During the approach, he placed the landing gear handle in the gear extended position. He said it felt "normal" but that he did not remember if he heard the landing gear motor. He did not look outside the high-wing airplane to check the landing gear position, and he did not remember seeing the green landing gear position lights illuminate. He added that the landing gear warning horn did not sound. He reported that, during landing, the nose landing gear was down and locked, but the main landing gear were trailing behind the airplane, and the airplane slid to the left side of the runway. The pilot reported that, if he knew the gear had not extended, he would have manually pumped the landing gear down. The mechanic reported that, when he arrived at the airplane postaccident, the landing gear circuit breaker was popped. He jacked up the airplane and repositioned the landing gear and then turned on the power, pushed in the landing gear circuit breaker, and raised the landing gear. He did not recall hearing the warning horn but mentioned that the throttle "may have been pushed in." He successfully cycled the landing gear multiple times. The mechanic added that a previous pilot of the accident airplane reported that the landing gear circuit breaker would often pop and that he would lower the landing gear with the manual pump. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Gear extension and retract sys-Not specified - C
• C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Task monitoring/vigilance-Pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Lack of action-Pilot - C