Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot did not complete the before-landing checklist and, subsequently, failed to extend the landing gear prior to landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction with his passengers’ conversation.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot, on a personal cross-country flight, had flown into the destination airport many times before and was familiar with the procedures associated with landing there. While completing the before-landing checklist, the pilot became distracted by conversation from the passengers. The pilot said that he did not hear the gear warning horn and, before he realized that the gear was still up, the airplane impacted the runway, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage during the wheels-up landing. Earlier in the flight, the pilot briefed his passengers about having a sterile cockpit environment during the landing phase of flight, but the conversation did not cease. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies associated with the accident.
Source record
Factual narrative
The airplane was on a personal cross country flight. The pilot had flown into the destination airport many times before and was familiar with the procedures associated with landing there. While completing the before landing checklist, the pilot became distracted by conversation from the passengers. The pilot never heard the gear warning horn and before he realized that the gear was still up, he impacted on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during the wheels up landing. No one onboard was injured during the accident. Earlier in the flight, the pilot briefed his passengers about having a sterile cockpit environment during the landing phase of flight. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies associated with the accident.