June 12, Windsor Locks, Conn. / Aero Commander 500S

At about 13:30 EDT, an Aero Commander 500S crashed while landing at Bradley International Airport. The two pilots were not injured. The owner reported that he was engaged in a local proficiency flight from Westchester County Airport, where he had been shooting approaches. During one approach the nose gear extended but the mains did not. The pilots retracted the landing gear and diverted to BDL due to its better weather. The owner, who had been receiving instruction, let the instructor pilot make the landing. On short final both engines were shut down and both propellers feathered. The airplane touched down hard, with one witness saying it appeared that the airplane dropped in from 50 feet. The pilot/owner had in excess of 3,300 hours, and the instructor had more than 8,400 hours.