What happened
During a company training session, a certified airline transport pilot acting as instructor was flying with two captain candidates. The second-in-command, a dual student, was operating the aircraft from the left seat.
The instructor had requested a single-engine, no-flap circling approach. This specific maneuver requires that the landing gear remain retracted until a safe landing is assured.
During the landing sequence, the student performed a checklist callout at a stage that follows the standard procedure for lowering the landing gear. However, neither pilot recalled issuing a command to lower the gear. The instructor noted that he had intentionally refrained from prompting the student, providing an opportunity for the student to manage the gear extension independently.
The aircraft subsequently contacted the runway with the landing gear up, resulting in substantial damage. All three pilots involved were not injured.