Incident Details
During the approach phase, air traffic control tower personnel requested that the pilot perform a side step approach. The pilot reported that this new instruction diverted his attention, causing him to neglect lowering the landing gear. He continued the approach without the gear extended until the gear warning horn activated, at which point he realized the omission and began to lower the gear.
Sequence of Events
The pilot initially initiated a go-around procedure but reconsidered after noticing that the aircraft was configured with full flaps. Additionally, he felt the tail of the aircraft make contact with the runway surface. Due to these circumstances, he decided to continue with the landing rather than aborting.
Pilot Statement
In a post-incident statement, the pilot acknowledged that he did not utilize a before-landing checklist during the approach. He attributed the oversight to the distraction caused by the tower's request for the side step maneuver.