Pilot's Distraction Leads to Gear-Up Landing After Glider Traffic (N7219H)

Accident Details

Upon returning to the airport, the pilot requested a traffic advisory. A glider pilot announced he was in the traffic pattern for runway 36. The pilot announced that he would extend his downwind and base to final to give the glider time to land.

Pilot's Account

The pilot stated that he went through his pre-landing checklist but elected not to lower the gear at that time. Instead, he lowered the flaps and proceeded to turn base to final. He said that he spotted the glider on the ground about one mile out on final and proceeded to land. He forgot that he had not lowered his landing gear until he heard the gear warning horn, and landed with the gear retracted. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the landing. According to the pilot, he had accumulated over 750 landings in retractable geared airplanes and had never forgotten to put the gear down until now.