On August 5, 1998, a Beech B36TC (registration N4BA) operated by Vernon T. Delgado was involved in an aviation accident near Pinedale, WY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear during the second landing attempt, which occurred after aborting the initial approach due to another aircraft on the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot aborted a landing due to another aircraft on the runway, then forgot to lower the gear on the second attempt, resulting in a wheels-up touchdown.
What happened
The pilot was conducting a standard traffic pattern for an intended landing when the approach was interrupted. As the pilot turned onto the final approach leg, another aircraft taxied directly onto the active runway in front of him. This unexpected obstruction forced the pilot to abort the landing immediately.
To re-establish the approach, the pilot flew a 360-degree track to circle back for a second landing attempt. During this subsequent approach, the pilot failed to deploy the landing gear. Consequently, the aircraft touched down on the runway with the wheels retracted, resulting in significant damage to the airframe and landing gear components.
The investigation
Post-accident examination confirmed that the landing gear was not extended at the time of touchdown. The primary mechanical failure was attributed to human error rather than a system malfunction. No evidence of hydraulic or electrical failure was found to explain the undeployed gear.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear during the second landing attempt, which occurred after aborting the initial approach due to another aircraft on the runway.