The pilot told investigators it was his first time landing at the airport in Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin, and he was having difficulty locating it. Additionally, skydiving operations were in progress at the airport.
Due to the distractions, he did not complete the normal downwind checklist and forgot to lower the Piper PA-28R-180’s landing gear.
On final approach, another pilot announced he was on final for the opposite end of the Piper pilot’s intended runway. The other pilot made a short approach and cleared the runway by the time the Piper pilot was on a ½-mile final.
The Piper pilot did not visually confirm the status of the landing gear cockpit lights before landing. Upon hearing the warning horn for the landing gear, he immediately lowered the landing gear and tried to remain airborne until the landing gear fully locked down. The airplane touched down before the left and nose landing gear fully locked down.
The airplane departed the runway to the left and came to rest upright in the grass. During the runway excursion, the left wing hit a runway light, which resulted in substantial damage.
The pilot told investigators that he should have performed a go-around when the other pilot was landing and that the accident was a combination of fatigue, distractions, and coming into a strange airport for the first time.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing due to distractions and his failure to conduct the Before Landing checklist.
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This July 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.
I looked up the airport. It’s “Fort Atkinson Municipal,” identifier “61C.” Runway is 3800 feet long, 60 feet wide, non-towered airport. As a pilot I wanna know all this stuff right up front. On the other hand, I kind of like looking up all this stuff. But still that should be right there in the middle of the first paragraph. And the weather, and did the Pilot turn the lights on for the runway, etc..