C177RG PLT HAS GEAR UP LNDG AT GAI.

Narrative

RETURNING FROM A SHORT LCL FLT; I MADE A NORMAL 45 DEG ENTRY FOR THE DOWNWIND FOR GAI RWY 14; EXCEPT THAT SPD WAS RATHER HIGH AND I DELAYED PUTTING THE GEAR DOWN FROM MY NORMAL POINT ON THE 45 DEG ENTRY. AFTER ENTERING THE DOWNWIND; I SHORTENED THE DOWNWIND AND TURNED BASE EARLIER THAN USUAL ON ACCOUNT OF TFC WHICH WAS SEVERAL MI OUT ON STRAIGHT-IN APCH. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE TFC AND ASSOCIATED RADIO COM GOING ON. WHEN I WAS ABOUT 1/4 MI FROM THE RWY THRESHOLD; SOMEONE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS ON 'SHORT FINAL;' AND I MADE ANOTHER RADIO CALL TO INSURE THAT HE SAW ME; SINCE HE HAD NOT SAID 'TFC IN SIGHT' OR '#2' OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THE REST OF THE APCH WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE GEAR UP LNDG; AND THE PLANE SLID MORE OR LESS STRAIGHT AHEAD FOR ABOUT 600 FT DOWN THE RWY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THERE WAS A PROP STRIKE AND BELLY SCRAPING. I DON'T REMEMBER HEARING THE GEAR WARNING HORN; I WAS WEARING A HEADSET; BUT NORMALLY IT IS QUITE AUDIBLE IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE IN THE HORN CIRCUIT. HOWEVER; IT DID OPERATE AFTER THE PLANE WAS GOTTEN BACK TO THE HANGAR AND JACKED UP.