Flight Details
On 2 October 2000 at 1128 UTC, a Piper PA-28R-200 (registration G-BMKK) landed on Runway 20 at Southampton Airport, Hampshire, with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft was on a private cross-country flight from Blackpool to Southampton, with only the pilot on board. The pilot, aged 41, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had 209 hours of flying experience, of which 42 hours were on type. The surface wind was 280/12 knots, visibility 10 kilometres, and overcast cloud at 2,200 feet.
Aircraft Systems
The PA-28R is equipped with a gear warning horn and light that activate when the throttle is retarded past approximately 14 inches of manifold pressure. Additionally, a system lowers the landing gear regardless of selector position when airspeed is below 90 knots with the power off. This system can be deactivated by selecting the emergency gear lever to the override position.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that during the approach to Southampton, air traffic control requested several orbits at approximately 8 nautical miles from the airport to allow for traffic spacing. He stated that these interruptions increased his workload and distracted him from completing his pre-landing checks. He did not hear the warning horn or see the warning light before touchdown. Seconds before touchdown, air traffic control issued a go-around call, but the pilot did not have time to respond. After landing, the pilot discovered that the emergency gear lever was in the override position, though he had not noticed it during the flight. The check of the lever position was not included on the checklist he used for the aircraft.
Post-Incident Examination
Subsequent examination of the aircraft found that the landing gear system and warning horn operated normally. Damage was limited to abrasion to the underside of the fuselage. The pilot reported no injuries.
Investigation Findings
The investigation noted that the pilot's workload and distractions during the approach likely contributed to the omission of the landing gear check, though no probable cause was explicitly stated in the source.