What happened
At the conclusion of a 45-minute cross-country flight, a single-engine airplane attempted to land on a 4,444-foot-long by 75-foot wide asphalt runway. During the landing phase, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear, causing the aircraft to land on its belly. The aircraft skidded to a stop before a fire erupted. The pilot and the passenger were able to egress the aircraft and were not injured.
The investigation
An FAA inspector examined the aircraft following the accident. The inspection revealed that the airplane sustained extensive post-impact fire damage. During the examination, the landing gear handle was found in the retracted position. The pilot, who had accumulated 6,626 hours in this specific make and model, stated that he simply forgot to extend the gear prior to touchdown. Additionally, the pilot reported that he did not recall hearing the landing gear horn and suspected the warning device may have been non-functional.