Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that while flying in the traffic pattern at the destination airport, he diverted his attention outside of the airplane and forgot to extend the landing gear. He did not recall hearing the landing gear warning horn during the landing. The airplane landed with the landing gear retracted and came to rest upright on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom of the fuselage near the nose gear wheel well. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.