Incident Overview
A pilot experienced a situation where the top cabin door latch opened during takeoff. In response, he executed a 180-degree turn to return to the departure airport, which operated with one-way traffic — takeoffs to the south and landings to the north.
Sequence of Events
During the return, the pilot moved the landing gear switch to the down position. However, he later realized that he had not released the safety latch, which, according to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, must be moved aside to place the switch in the up position. The pilot noticed the landing gear remained retracted while in the landing flare.
Landing Decision
The departure end of the 2,365-foot landing runway featured uphill terrain and trees. The pilot assessed that a go-around would not be feasible and therefore chose to land with the gear retracted rather than attempt a go-around.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the incident.