N7659U

On April 5, 1996, at 1500 mountain standard time, a Cessna T210R, N7659U, was substantially damaged while landing at the Albuquerque International Airport, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The airplane was owned and operated by the Saga Exploration Company of Reno, Nevada. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight. A VFR flight plan was filed and a weather briefing received for the flight. The personal flight originated in Reno, Nevada, and a refueling stop was made at Page, Arizona, earlier that morning. The airplane departed from Page, Arizona, approximately 2 hours prior to the accident.

According to the pilot, as he approached Albuquerque, he requested and received an IFR clearance to descend below the overcast, followed by a clearance for a visual approach to runway 30. While attempting to land on 30, the prevailing crosswind caused the airplane "to skip sideways on the runway." The pilot elected to abort the landing and return for another landing. The tower instructed the pilot to execute a left downwind for runway 30, and later cleared the airplane to land on Runway 30 behind landing traffic. The pilot was also advised by the tower that he had traffic following him.

The pilot stated that during his second attempt to land, "he forgot to extend the landing gear and the airplane touched down on its belly." The pilot stated that his attention was diverted to the traffic ahead and behind him, and he was also apprehensive about the prevailing crosswind. Damage to the airplane was limited to structural damage to the underside of the fuselage.