Primary finding
Probable cause
inadvertent retraction of the landing gear by the pilot during landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
Immediately after touchdown, the right main and nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid down the runway, causing substantial damage, and then the left landing gear collapsed. No evidence was found by investigators of a mechanical malfunction.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 14, 1996, approximately 1045 Pacific daylight time, N67SA, a Piper PA-34-200T, sustained substantial damage when the landing gear collapsed after landing at Aurora Sate Airport, Aurora, Oregon. The private pilot and his five passengers were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which had originated at Bend, Oregon, about 0945. There was no report of the ELT actuating. The pilot stated that immediately after touchdown the right main and nose gear collapsed. The aircraft slid down the runway and exited the runway to the right. The left landing gear collapsed and the aircraft stopped forward motion. No evidence of a mechanical malfunction was found by investigators. -