After an instrument flight rules cross-country flight, the pilot received multiple radar vectors from air traffic control for traffic after mis-identifying the destination airport in Greenville, South Carolina, for a visual approach.
He then had difficulty identifying the runway while looking toward the setting sun and setting up the GPS to identify a 2-mile final approach to the runway.
On final approach, he was paying close attention to departing traffic on the landing runway. He told investigators he configured the Beech E-55 for landing, but neglected to lower the landing gear.
He heard the landing gear position warning horn and realized that he had forgotten to extend the landing gear when the airplane settled onto the runway.
The airplane skidded down the asphalt, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing.
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This April 2024 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.
GUMP it is, unequivocally. I personally added Flaps, Power, Airspeed.
Back in 1987 or so, I was visiting a friend who was a controller in the KSYR tower. We watched a Cessna 172RG land gear up on what was then runway 14. He hit the crash button and we ran down and jumped in a car to drive to the runway. As we got out of the car the pilot was literally jumping up and down hollering, “I forgot to put the gear down!” over and over. I almost felt sorry for him. My friend John said, “OK thanks” case closed. We went back to the tower. I never did hear what the outcome was.
GUMPF – Gas, undercarriage, mixture, props, flaps. At least 3 times on every approach to landing. No excuse not to do this!
It’s too bad all retracts are not equipped with an automatic gear extension system. At least going forward with the automatic landing system, there is reliable technology available for new aircraft.
I sympathize with that pilot having trouble flying into the setting sun. I’ve encountered that problem numerous times on the road driving west somewhere. Sun directly in the middle of my view. Can’t see, can’t read road signs, no place to pull over. Sheesh! He’s aviating and navigating. No time to read some list. Sensory overload for that pilot.
Regards/J
Like most pilot caused incidents, it’s not about bells and whistles. It’s failure to prioritize actions according to the progressive chain of events. GUMP 20 miles out if you can’t keep up with the plane.
Well said!
Use a prelanding checklist, and warning horns aren’t necessary!
Do pilots check the operation of their landing gear warning horn? You can only really do that in flight. When I annual a plane during gear checks, with gear retracted I’ll pull the throttle to idle and make sure it goes off. But it is supposed to come on before idle in flight. The maintenance manual gives an airspeed, engine rpm and flap configuration where it is supposed to come on. The adjustment of the switch is a pain. Too early it is a nuisance and too late is bad.