Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was an inoperative landing gear warning horn.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot, he was distracted by communications difficulties due to issues with the airplane’s headset jacks while conducting an instrument approach. The pilot reported that the landing gear warning horn did not alert him as to the gear being in the “up” position and, in the resulting landing, he did not lower the landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear warning horn was inoperative.