Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to lower the landing gear, which resulted in a gear-up hard landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that when the airplane was on short final for the nighttime landing, he realized that he had forgotten to put the airplane’s landing gear in the down position. He added full power for a go-around; however, the airplane impacted the runway hard and skidded to a stop. The pilot exited the airplane, and a postimpact fire ensued. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while on short final for the nighttime landing he realized that he had forgotten to put the airplane’s landing gear in the down position. He added full power for a go-around, however the airplane suddenly impacted the runway hard and skidded to a stop. The pilot exited the airplane as a post-crash fire ensued. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.