What happened
On February 14, 2011, a Piper PA-28RT-201, registration N2878N, was involved in an accident in Danville, Indiana. The pilot was conducting a 180-degree power-off approach and landing maneuver. During the sequence, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear, causing the aircraft to impact the runway in the gear-up position. The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the impact. There were no injuries reported following the event.
The investigation
The investigation confirmed that the landing gear remained in the retracted position throughout the approach and touchdown. The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunctions occurred on the aircraft during the flight.