This November 2007 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Piper Navajo. Location: Salt Lake City, Utah. Injuries: None. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot was initially inbound for a straight-in landing, but was switched by the tower to a different runway. The pilot stated he felt rushed, and he performed his pre-landing configuration actions from memory. He thought he had put the landing gear down, noting that the green gear lights appeared to be illuminated. However, when the aircraft slid along the runway on its belly the pilot realized that what he thought was light illumination was actually the reflection of the rays from the rising sun.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to lower the landing gear prior to landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to use a written checklist.
For more information: NTSB.gov
