On September 12, 2007, a Mooney M20D (registration N1229X) operated by James Garland was involved in an aviation accident near Placerville, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing. A contributing factor was the pilots impaired performance. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot, recently purchased aircraft, became ill, diverted, and landed with gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage underside. No mechanical anomalies were found.
Accident Overview
A pilot flying a recently purchased airplane on a cross-country flight diverted to a nearby airport after becoming ill. During the landing, the pilot did not extend the landing gear. The airplane bounced upon touchdown and skidded down the runway, sustaining substantial damage to the tubular structure on the underside of the fuselage.
Post-Accident Findings
The pilot reported to responding police personnel that he forgot to extend the landing gear. A post-accident examination of the airplane and its landing gear systems by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no mechanical anomalies with the landing gear system.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage exclusively to the tubular structure on the underside of the fuselage. No other damage was reported.