Synopsis
On 30 January 2007 at 1610Z, a Mooney M20C, registration ZS-FHM, was involved in an incident during a private flight. The aircraft was operating under visual meteorological conditions with no wind reported, temperature 28°C, and visibility CAVOK. There were two persons on board (1+1), and no injuries or fatalities occurred. The aircraft damage was not specified in the report.
Sequence of Events
The pilot, accompanied by a passenger, departed from Tzaneen Aerodrome for a local flight. After approximately forty minutes of airborne time, the pilot returned to the aerodrome and decided to perform touch-and-go landings on Runway 06. Following the first touch-and-go, he opted for a second one.
During an interview, the pilot stated that he and his passenger became engaged in a serious conversation, leading him to fail to lower the landing gear during his downwind vital actions. He noted that his approach speed was slightly higher than normal but did not consider it significant prior to touchdown. The pilot reported that he performed his final vital actions (approach checks) by reading them out loud, yet continued the landing with the landing gear still retracted.
The pilot further stated that he flew a long, flat approach with power settings above 10 inches of manifold pressure and did not hear the gear unsafe audio warning before touchdown.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the incident was the pilot's neglect to lower the landing gear prior to landing, resulting in a wheels-up landing.