What happened
On July 10, 2019, a Diamond DA 42 NG, registration N805PA, was performing maneuvers in the airport pattern near Palatka, Florida, under visual meteorological conditions. The flight was being conducted by Phoenix East Aviation, with a student pilot on the controls and a flight instructor present.
During the approach, the pilot receiving instruction reported feeling fatigue and motion sickness caused by light turbulence. While the crew engaged in a discussion regarding these symptoms, they became distracted. Consequently, the crew did not complete the landing checklist and failed to configure the aircraft for landing. The aircraft subsequently performed a landing with the landing gear in the retracted position.
There were no injuries resulting from the accident. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to both engine gear boxes.
The investigation
The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions prior to the accident that would have prevented the normal operation of the aircraft.