Summary
On January 13, 2012, a Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K (N262RW) was involved in an incident near Willmar, MN. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot landed without lowering the landing gear.
The student pilot was performing his third solo landing. He extended the downwind leg of the traffic pattern to provide spacing for another airplane. The student pilot stated that he forgot to extend the landing gear and inadvertently landed gear up. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom cabin structure of the fuselage. The student pilot reported that the landing gear warning activated; however, he thought it was the stall warning. The student pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN12CA136. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N262RW.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot landed without lowering the landing gear.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The student pilot was performing his third solo landing. He extended the downwind leg of the traffic pattern to provide spacing for another airplane. The student pilot stated that he forgot to extend the landing gear and inadvertently landed gear up. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom cabin structure of the fuselage. The student pilot reported that the landing gear warning activated; however, he thought it was the stall warning. The student pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN12CA136