Incident Overview
A pilot flying a retractable landing gear-equipped airplane on an instrument flight rules cross-country flight reported that he had been operating for about six continuous hours. He stated that he felt fatigued and anxious to exit the aircraft, leading him to decide to refuel en route. He contacted a nearby tower, which informed him of two aircraft in the traffic pattern. The pilot was able to identify only one of the aircraft before initiating his approach.
Approach and Go-Around Instruction
During the approach, approximately 100 ft above ground level, the tower controller instructed the pilot to go around but did not provide a reason. The pilot considered it unwise to abort the landing because he was unaware of the location of the second aircraft in the pattern. Consequently, he continued the approach and executed the landing.
Landing Gear Retraction
The pilot reported that he did not accomplish the GUMPS checklist—a mnemonic for landing gear, undercarriage, mixture, propeller, and switches—due to the distractions he experienced. As a result, the airplane touched down with the landing gear retracted.
Damage and Mechanical Status
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage longerons and bulkhead. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.