N98624

On August 26, 2004, at 1217 central daylight time, a Cessna 340 twin-engine airplane, N98624, was substantially damaged during a gear-up landing at the Odessa-Schlemeyer Field Airport (ODO) near Odessa, Texas. The commercial pilot receiving instruction and the flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot receiving instruction. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Midland International Airport near Midland, Texas, at an unknown time, and was destined for ODO.

The 11,623-hour certificated flight instructor (CFI) reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that after entering the airport traffic pattern on downwind for Runway 20, he reduced power on the left engine to simulate an inoperative engine. The 6,727-hour pilot receiving instruction executed the emergency checklist and due to the distance to Runway 20, decided to land on runway 16 (a 3,420 foot long, 60 foot wide, asphalt runway).

The CFI further reported that they turned to establish the base leg for Runway 16 and observed the pilot receiving instruction "place his hand on the gear handle and assumed that he had put the gear down at that time." The CFI added that the gear warning lights "could not be seen very well from the right seat position and were not very bright" and he did not "lean over to verify that the gear was down."

As power was reduced on final approach for landing, the aural gear warning horn sounded, alerting the CFI and pilot receiving instruction that the landing gear was not extended. The CFI stated that an "it was doubtful that a go-around could have been initiated successfully," and power was reduced to idle on both engines. Subsequently, the airplane landed gear up and came to rest up right.

Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed a hole through the pressure vessel in the main bulkhead of the aircraft. The wing flaps, air condenser and both propellers were also damaged.