Two accidents @ NCL

Did anybody hear about the wheels up landing and the overturned fuel tanker at Newcastle?

PA-34 G-BMUT did a wheels up landing at 9.17am on 3/8/03. The pilot did a touch and go on runway 25 followed by a simulated engine faliure. Because of other traffic departing the downwind leg was extended and the gear selection was dealyed until the final approach.Despite the gear lever being selected ‘DOWN’ it landed with the landing gear retracted. As a result the underside fuselarge suffered extensive damage as did the left wing propeller blades. It was confirmed by an instructor that the lever was in the ‘DOWN’ position, however the pilot did not check that the three green gear lights were illuminated, this possibly was because of the distraction of other manoeurvring aircraft and the change of pre-landing checks.

The airport was closed for about 40 mins on 14/10/03 because a fuel tanker overturned on the apron and spilled it’s load.Fire crews from Gateshead and Newcastle were called to help the
airports crew and spent about four hours dousing foam on the spilled fuel.