Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear. A related factor was his attention being diverted.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was vectored onto a long final approach to runway 30. About 3 miles from the runway, he slowed the airplane to 140 knots (Vgo), then slowed further to the flap operating speed (Vfo). He was going through the final prelanding checklist when a 'bright' annunciator light on the GPS (global positioning system) display panel illuminated. The pilot said he was distracted by this light and was trying to turn it off. The pilot wrote, 'With this distraction, I failed to check for the gear down green light and landed with the gear up. The gear horn came on as I flared, but it was too late.'
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 4, 1997, approximately 1900 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 210L, N93089, was substantially damaged during an inadvertent wheels up landing at Albuquerque, New Mexico. The private pilot, and sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Santa Rosa, New Mexico, approximately 1800. This event was originally classified as an incident and upgraded to an accident after the airplane was inspected by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector. According to the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot, he contacted approach control and was subsequently vectored onto a long final approach to runway 30. When the airplane was 3 miles from the runway, he slowed the airplane to 140 knots (Vgo), then slowed further to flaps operating speed (Vfo). The pilot was going through the final prelanding checklist when a "bright" annunciator light on the GPS (global positioning system) display panel illuminated. The pilot said he was distracted by this light and was trying to turn it off. The pilot wrote, "With this distraction, I failed to check for the gear down green light and landed with the gear up. The gear horn came on as I flared, but it was too late." Inspection disclosed a structural rib behind the passenger door was damaged to the extent that it had to be replaced. -