What happened
During the final phase of the landing approach, the pilot acknowledged that he likely failed to extend the landing gear before touchdown. Following the incident, a thorough physical inspection of the aircraft was conducted to determine if a mechanical failure contributed to the oversight.
The examination focused specifically on the extension and retraction mechanisms of the landing gear system. The results showed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or obstruction within the hydraulic or electrical systems responsible for gear operation.
The investigation
To further verify the integrity of the equipment, a functional test of the landing gear system was performed. The test confirmed that the mechanism operated properly and responded correctly to control inputs. A subsequent visual inspection revealed that the landing gear was in the fully up and locked position at the time of the event.
Findings
The primary factor identified was pilot error, specifically the failure to complete the pre-landing checklist or manually deploy the gear. The mechanical systems were deemed serviceable and not a contributing factor to the accident.