Incident Summary
A pilot experienced a gear-up landing after failing to lower the landing gear before touchdown. The event occurred during a landing approach where the pilot had configured the aircraft early for anticipated difficult conditions due to reported winds, including setting the mixture to rich, propeller to high RPM, and fuel to the fullest tank. However, the pilot did not extend the landing gear because of the distance from the airport.
Approach and Landing
The pilot entered the traffic pattern on a normal 45-degree entry for landing. On final approach, the pilot did not perform the pre-landing checklist and consequently did not confirm that the landing gear was down. The aircraft touched down on the runway surface with the landing gear retracted, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage structure.
Prior Maintenance Issue
The pilot reported that during the annual inspection, an anomaly was noted in the gear warning horn system—it was found to be out of adjustment and had not been resolved. The pilot stated that there were no other preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the aircraft.