HAYMARKET, VA, USA
N54VT
GRUMMAN G-44
The pilot landed gearup while landing on his private farm airstrip. According to th pilot, 'As I approached the farm, I prepared for the landing by going through the pre-landing check. I elected to wait before putting the gear down. As I approached the landing, I was distracted by the bright sun glaring through the windshield, as the sun was setting, I was distracted, and did not put the gear down. The sun was bright enough that the gear light did not warn me of impending gearup landing.' The airplane came to rest inverted.
On October 18, 1994 about 1735 eastern daylight time, N54VT, a Grumman G-44 "Widgeon" airplane, landed gearup, and nosed over on a private grass airstrip, at Haymarket, Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions existed. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The departure point was Culpeper, Virginia. The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot "I left Manassas Airport to fly the fifteen minute trip home to land on the farm. As I approached the farm, I prepared for the landing by going through the pre- landing check. I elected to wait before putting the gear down. As I approached the landing,I was distracted by the bright sun glaring through the windshield as the sun was setting. I was distracted and did not put the gear down. The sun was bright enough that the gear light did not warn me of impending gear up landing."
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear which resulted in a gear up landing. A factor was the pilot's diverted attention.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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