On September 22, 2025, a Bombardier CL-600 twin-engine jet experienced a landing gear malfunction while attempting to land at Manassas Regional Airport (Harry P. Davis Field) around 2:20 p.m. The aircraft touched down on its nose and slid an estimated 200–300 feet before stopping. The 47-year-old pilot from Washington, D.C. was the only person aboard and was uninjured. No passengers were involved.
City officials reported the incident is under investigation. According to local responders, including Manassas Fire and Rescue and Virginia State Police, there were no injuries and the event was contained on the runway. Airport operations later resumed.
Why Gear Malfunctions Lead to Runway Slides
When landing gear does not extend or lock properly, crews may have limited options to keep the aircraft aligned and slow it safely. Below are common pathways that turn a gear issue into a slide on touchdown.
- Gear-up/partial-extension dynamics. With no or incomplete gear support, the fuselage and engine nacelles can contact the runway, increasing drag and reducing directional control. Our overview of gear up landings explains why even stable approaches can end in a slide when the gear isn’t locked.
- Mechanical or maintenance faults. Actuators, uplock hooks, sensors, or hydraulic components can fail or be mis-rigged. When aircraft maintenance is improper or parts are defective, crews may receive inaccurate “down and locked” indications.
- Human-machine interface under time pressure. Abnormal checklists, emergency extension procedures, and runway selection decisions must be executed quickly. A long runway and calm winds help; short fields or crosswinds raise the stakes.
Why this matters: Understanding these mechanics helps pilots and an investigator determine whether the issue traces to design, maintenance, or in-cockpit decision-making.
What Investigators Will Examine
Expect a methodical review of approach profile, abnormal checklist use, and the gear system’s health. Investigators typically secure cockpit alerts and annunciations, hydraulic pressures, position-sensor data, and wheel-well hardware. For aircraft equipped with recording devices, black box and maintenance computer data are compared against pilot reports. The NTSB preliminary report usually provides early factual findings in the days following an event.
Potential Liability After a Non-Injury Gear Event
Even without injuries, there can be aircraft damage, downtime, and business losses. Responsibility may involve the operator, a maintenance provider, or a component manufacturer if a defect contributed. In appropriate cases, claims can include product liability theories for failed parts, or recovery of repair and related costs through the at-fault party’s insurer. Documentation of pre-flight discrepancies, recent inspections, and parts replacements is critical.
Practical Next Steps for Owners and Pilots
- Get a complete medical check even if you feel fine; post-adrenaline symptoms can emerge later. Guidance on seek immediate medical attention explains why.
- Preserve the aircraft as-is until an adjuster and qualified expert inspect the gear system and controls.
- Gather logs, work orders, parts tags, and recent squawk lists. Photograph annunciators, circuit breakers, and the gear handle positions.
- Coordinate with your insurer and the airport authority on recovery and storage to avoid spoliation of evidence.
Speak With an Aviation Accident Attorney
If you’ve been the victim of a landing-gear malfunction, runway slide, or hard-landing event, Spagnoletti Law Firm can help. An experienced aviation accident attorney will move quickly to secure maintenance and system data, coordinate expert inspections, and protect your financial interests while you focus on next steps.
Call 713-804-9306 to speak with a lawyer. You can reach out online to get started, and learn more about our aviation practice here: aviation accident attorney.