Private pilot of an small aircraft sel crashed off the departure end of the runway due to being unab...

Attributes
ACN	311483
Time
Date	199507
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : n52
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : slc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Commander 114
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing : go around other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 886 flight time type : 690
ASRS Report	311483
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer other personnel
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other other
Consequence	faa : investigated other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On returning from a flight to mountain meadow airport (22B) I entered the traffic pattern at somerset airport (N52) and activated the gear down switch. I failed to get a positive gear down indication (no light) for the left main gear. I radioed somerset traffic (123.0) indicating my problem - - advised I was departing the pattern to check out further. After approximately 5 attempts lowering the gear, I still did not get a positive gear light. I radioed somerset, requested a low pass for a visual check. As I flew over someone came out and appeared to indicate a 'thumbs up.' I added power, realized I wasn't climbing properly, so I raised the gear and flaps. The plane was 'mushing,' I realized I would not be able to clear the trees, so I opted to land straight ahead, gear up. This occurred at approximately XX00 pm EDT on jul/sat/95. Contributing factors: the runway in use, (runway 12) is not the runway normally in use (runway 30) the FBO building is close to the departure end of the runway 12, consequently after confirming a visual check, (which really meant nothing -- since none could confirm a gear locked position -- hindsight) I had already passed the departure end of the runway. The small field and 50-60 ft trees at the end did not allow me the time to gain airspeed and climb. Corrective action: although I allowed myself to get too low and slow and fall behind the 'power curve,' the decision to put the plane down in the field (against all instincts to pull back and climb) was a very difficult one. You know you will do damage to the plane, possibly harm your passenger (or worse) and at least suffer embarrassment. However I know it was the correct decision since all 4 occupants walked away unhurt! Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that the aircraft was a rockwell international commander 114. The FAA investigated the mishap and classified it as an incident since the damage was not considered substantial. No one could determine at the time the aircraft was 'ferried' away with the gear locked in the down position what caused the landing gear down indication problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT OF AN SMA SEL CRASHED OFF THE DEP END OF THE RWY DUE TO BEING UNABLE TO CLB OVER TALL TREES AFTER LOW APCH FLY-BY FOR GEAR INSPECTION. THERE WERE NEITHER INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS NOR SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ACFT.

Narrative: ON RETURNING FROM A FLT TO MOUNTAIN MEADOW ARPT (22B) I ENTERED THE TFC PATTERN AT SOMERSET ARPT (N52) AND ACTIVATED THE GEAR DOWN SWITCH. I FAILED TO GET A POSITIVE GEAR DOWN INDICATION (NO LIGHT) FOR THE L MAIN GEAR. I RADIOED SOMERSET TFC (123.0) INDICATING MY PROB - - ADVISED I WAS DEPARTING THE PATTERN TO CHK OUT FURTHER. AFTER APPROX 5 ATTEMPTS LOWERING THE GEAR, I STILL DID NOT GET A POSITIVE GEAR LIGHT. I RADIOED SOMERSET, REQUESTED A LOW PASS FOR A VISUAL CHK. AS I FLEW OVER SOMEONE CAME OUT AND APPEARED TO INDICATE A 'THUMBS UP.' I ADDED PWR, REALIZED I WASN'T CLBING PROPERLY, SO I RAISED THE GEAR AND FLAPS. THE PLANE WAS 'MUSHING,' I REALIZED I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CLR THE TREES, SO I OPTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD, GEAR UP. THIS OCCURRED AT APPROX XX00 PM EDT ON JUL/SAT/95. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: THE RWY IN USE, (RWY 12) IS NOT THE RWY NORMALLY IN USE (RWY 30) THE FBO BUILDING IS CLOSE TO THE DEP END OF THE RWY 12, CONSEQUENTLY AFTER CONFIRMING A VISUAL CHK, (WHICH REALLY MEANT NOTHING -- SINCE NONE COULD CONFIRM A GEAR LOCKED POS -- HINDSIGHT) I HAD ALREADY PASSED THE DEP END OF THE RWY. THE SMALL FIELD AND 50-60 FT TREES AT THE END DID NOT ALLOW ME THE TIME TO GAIN AIRSPD AND CLB. CORRECTIVE ACTION: ALTHOUGH I ALLOWED MYSELF TO GET TOO LOW AND SLOW AND FALL BEHIND THE 'PWR CURVE,' THE DECISION TO PUT THE PLANE DOWN IN THE FIELD (AGAINST ALL INSTINCTS TO PULL BACK AND CLB) WAS A VERY DIFFICULT ONE. YOU KNOW YOU WILL DO DAMAGE TO THE PLANE, POSSIBLY HARM YOUR PAX (OR WORSE) AND AT LEAST SUFFER EMBARRASSMENT. HOWEVER I KNOW IT WAS THE CORRECT DECISION SINCE ALL 4 OCCUPANTS WALKED AWAY UNHURT! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS A ROCKWELL INTL COMMANDER 114. THE FAA INVESTIGATED THE MISHAP AND CLASSIFIED IT AS AN INCIDENT SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS NOT CONSIDERED SUBSTANTIAL. NO ONE COULD DETERMINE AT THE TIME THE ACFT WAS 'FERRIED' AWAY WITH THE GEAR LOCKED IN THE DOWN POS WHAT CAUSED THE LNDG GEAR DOWN INDICATION PROB.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Private pilot of an small aircraft sel crashed off the departure end of the runway due to being unable to climb over tall trees after low approach fly-by for gear inspection. There were neither injuries to occupants nor substantial damage to the aircraft.