Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot landed without lowering the landing gear.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot extended the downwind leg of the traffic pattern on his third solo landing to provide spacing for another airplane. He said that he forgot to lower the landing gear and inadvertently landed with the gear up. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom cabin structure of the fuselage. The student pilot reported that the landing gear warning activated; however, he thought it was the stall warning. The student pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
Source record
Factual narrative
The student pilot was performing his third solo landing. He extended the downwind leg of the traffic pattern to provide spacing for another airplane. The student pilot stated that he forgot to extend the landing gear and inadvertently landed gear up. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom cabin structure of the fuselage. The student pilot reported that the landing gear warning activated; however, he thought it was the stall warning. The student pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.