What happened
Following takeoff, the pilot remained in the traffic pattern to execute a touch-and-go landing. During this phase of flight, the pilot reported becoming distracted by other aircraft in the vicinity. Additionally, the pilot was concerned about a potential loss of electrical power and feared that the aircraft might stall or spin during the turn to final approach.
The pilot noted an inability to read the cockpit instruments, which led to the belief that an electrical failure had occurred. However, the pilot did not hear the gear warning horn prior to impact. Consequently, the airplane touched down with its landing gear retracted, resulting in a wheels-up landing.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the aircraft and the sequence of events leading to the incident. Examination revealed that the landing gear had not been extended during the approach. The pilot's inability to read the instruments contributed to the confusion regarding the electrical system status, although no definitive mechanical failure of the electrical system was confirmed as the primary cause.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident were the pilot's distraction by other traffic and the subsequent failure to extend the landing gear. The pilot's concern about a possible electrical failure and inability to read instruments further compounded the situation, leading to the wheels-up touchdown.