Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he had performed three takeoffs and landings without incident. During the fourth landing, he “flared the airplane at stall speed”. He “heard a noise under the fuselage even though the landing gear lever was engaged in the down position.” The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage structure during the landing. During a postaccident examination the landing gear extended and retracted normally. The landing gear position lights and the landing gear unsafe warning horn both functioned as designed. There were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.