Incident Overview
A pilot reported that after departing for a local practice area, he decided to return to the airport. At the time, two airplanes were in the traffic pattern, and a third airplane was approximately 10 miles to the east, inbound. To sequence with the two airplanes in the pattern and the third on the extended downwind, the pilot entered the traffic pattern close to the approach end of the intended runway instead of entering midfield downwind.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that he lowered the flaps but failed to lower the landing gear at the designated key point. He turned onto the base leg and extended full flaps, then turned onto final approach. While on final approach, he had a sense that the airplane was fast but did not detect that the landing gear was retracted. He continued the approach and sensed that the sight picture was lower than usual, but he did not recall hearing the landing gear warning horn. He heard the propeller contact the runway and attempted to lower the landing gear, but it was too late. The pilot reported hearing the landing gear warning horn after the airplane came to rest.
Aircraft Damage
A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that a main stringer and a leading edge rib inside the right wing were damaged.