Aircraft and Flight
The accident involved a 1962 Piper PA-24-250 Commanche, registration N7832P, powered by a single Lycoming O-540 series piston engine. The aircraft was on a private flight from Benson airfield to Chiltern Air Park, located 4 nm south of Benson. The pilot, aged 37, held a Private Pilot's Licence with 456 total flying hours, including 21 hours on type. He had flown zero hours in the previous 90 days.
Circumstances
Prior to departure, the pilot contacted the owner of Chiltern Air Park for permission and to verify runway conditions. After taking off from Benson, he joined the circuit at Chiltern. During the downwind leg, he omitted to select the landing gear down. On base and final legs, his attention was focused on avoiding noise abatement areas. Although he recalled performing a 'reds, blues, greens' touch drill check—which includes checking the red mixture lever and blue propeller speed lever are forward and that three green landing gear lights are illuminated—he did not consciously verify that the green lights were on. The aircraft touched down lightly on the grass and came to rest on its underside.
Outcome
The propeller and fuselage underside sustained damage. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The aircraft came to rest on the grass runway.
Pilot's Report
The pilot noted that the short distance between Benson and Chiltern necessitated a very quick transition from climb-out and departure checks to joining the circuit. His focus on maintaining a good look-out for other aircraft and correctly joining the circuit contributed to him rushing his downwind checks. He stated that he thinks he said the word 'undercarriage' during the downwind check but then carried out a touch drill without manually selecting the gear down.