Accident Overview
A night visual approach to an airport located in the mountains at 8,860 feet MSL ended with a gear-up landing after the pilot misinterpreted a warning horn. The pilot, having initiated a go-around on the first approach due to being high, raised the landing gear to improve aircraft performance. On the second approach, the pilot forgot to lower the landing gear and landed with the wheels retracted.
Flight Sequence
During the initial approach, the pilot determined that he was high and elected to go around. To enhance the aircraft's climb performance during the go-around, the pilot raised the landing gear. Subsequently, on the second approach, the pilot did not lower the landing gear before touchdown. The landing was made with the gear retracted.
Warning Horn Confusion
The pilot reported that during the second approach, he heard a warning horn. Believing it to be the stall warning, he added power. When the horn ceased, the pilot thought he had resolved the issue. On this model of aircraft, both the stall warning and the landing gear warning are generated by the same horn, but with different activators and a slightly different sound. By advancing the throttle, the pilot silenced the landing gear warning horn, inadvertently confirming his mistaken assumption.