What happened
During the final approach phase, the aircraft was operating under instrument or visual flight rules when air traffic control at the tower observed that the landing gear had not been extended. The controller attempted to alert the pilot twice via radio communication, instructing the crew to execute a go-around immediately due to the unsafe configuration. The pilot did not respond to either of these critical warnings. Consequently, the aircraft continued its descent and impacted the runway surface with the landing gear retracted, resulting in a gear-up landing on runway 13.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators conducted a thorough examination of the aircraft's landing gear system to determine if a mechanical failure contributed to the incident. The inspection revealed that the warning horn, which is designed to sound when the throttle is retarded at low altitudes with the gear up, was inoperative. Despite this malfunction, no other evidence of system failure or mechanical malfunction could be found within the landing gear mechanism itself.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the accident was the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear during the approach. This error was compounded by the lack of response to air traffic control instructions. The inoperative warning horn may have removed an auditory cue that could have alerted the crew to the gear configuration, but the investigation found no other mechanical issues. The event highlights the critical importance of adhering to tower instructions and verifying aircraft configuration during final approach.