Accident Swearingen SA226-AT Merlin IV N31AT,

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 324562

Date:	Friday 15 December 1995
Time:	04:23
Type:	Swearingen SA226-AT Merlin IV
Owner/operator:	Air Transport Inc.
Registration:	N31AT
MSN:	AT-057
Year of manufacture:	1977
Total airframe hrs:	6965 hours
Engine model:	Garrett TPE331-3U-330G
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Substantial, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	Detroit-Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, MI (DTW) - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Ferry/positioning
Departure airport:	Flint-Bishop Airport, MI (FNT/KFNT)
Destination airport:	Louisville International Airport, KY (SDF/KSDF)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
Shortly after departing Flint, the airplane's left engine started to surge. The airplane also began experiencing intermittent electrical surges causing the instrument panel lights, cabin lights, and radios to go OFF and ON. The pilot stated that he decided to divert to Detroit and land because the airport had emergency equipment available. The pilot stated that he did not advise ATC of any problem while diverting because he believed that he could land without incident. The pilot did not attempt to secure the left engine before landing because it was still developing some usable power. The airplane landed on the runway gear up.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear. A factor in the accident was the pilot's diverted attention."

Accident investigation: