PARIS, ID, USA
N5246P
Piper PA-24-250
As the pilot was entering the pattern, he made a 360 degree turn to allow time for another aircraft to depart. As he reentered the pattern, he failed to recheck the checklist, which he had on his instrument panel. He continued the pattern, and during touchdown, he realized that he had forgotten to lower the gear.
On July 2, 1996, approximately 1045 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N5246P, landed wheels-up at Bear Lake County Airport near Paris, Idaho. The airplane was substantially damaged in the landing. According to the FAA preliminary accident notice, the pilot was on a 14 CFR 91 local pleasure flight. He had departed Bear Lake County Airport about 15 minutes earlier in order to give some friends a ride around the area. The flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions, and no flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, he made a 360 degree turn while entering the pattern in order to provide an aircraft that was taxiing out time to depart. When he reentered the pattern, he forgot to "recheck" the checklist that was on his instrument panel. He continued around the pattern, and upon touchdown realized that he had forgotten to lower the gear.
the pilot forgot to extend the landing gear before landing. Factors relating to the accident were: an interuption of the pilot's habit pattern, when he circled to provide time for another airplane to takeoff as he entered the traffic pattern; and his failure to follow the available checklist.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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