Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the lower fuselage. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to utilize the aircraft checklist.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot, during his approach to land he was distracted by an air traffic conflict. As he monitored the conflict, he said that he forgot to use his pre-landing checklist and subsequently failed to extend the landing gear. He believed that he had an opportunity to catch the problem but was concerned about the other aircraft in the traffic pattern. The airplane landed gear up and slid to a stop on the runway. The pilot did not report any anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the scene confirmed the structural damage to the belly of the airplane.