Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during the approach to a runway, he became distracted by people on the runway and believed he "neglected to lower the landing gear." During the subsequent landing attempt, he thought the airplane's propeller contacted the turf, prompting him to abort the landing.
Maneuvering After Abort
After aborting the landing, the airplane gained altitude and the pilot executed a right turn. However, the airspeed did not increase as he expected based on his perception.
Emergency Landing
Recalling that continuing flight over rising terrain was not advisable, the pilot extended the landing gear and landed in a field. The airplane landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to both wings.
Mechanical Status
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.