NTSB Factual Report

On June 28, 2001, approximately 1845 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6474P, sustained substantial damage during a wheels up landing on runway 15 at the Garner Field Airport in Uvalde, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant and operator of the airplane, was not injured The airplane was registered to a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal cross-country flight and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed from Carrizo Springs, Texas, approximately 1830, with a destination of Uvalde.

During a telephone interview, the pilot stated that on descent he was "high and fast." He entered downwind at 3000 feet, and before he turned base leg, he realized he was "still too high" so he lowered the flaps. He did not move the landing gear switch to the down position until the airplane was on final approach. He did not check for a landing gear down and locked green light until he was on short final. When he did check for a green light, he noted that it was not illuminated. At that point, he added power to go around; however, the engine "sputtered", and he elected to reduce power and land with the wheels up. The airplane touched down and slid approximately 170 yards before coming to a stop on the runway. When the pilot opened the door and exited the airplane, he noted black smoke coming from beneath the airplane. The ensuing fire consumed the rear portion of the fuselage.

According to the pilot's written statement in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, he stated that during the approach he used full flaps with a speed of 80 mph. About one-half mile from the runway he positioned the landing gear switch in the down position, but did not immediately check the landing gear down lights to verify that the gear was down and locked. The pilot stated he "didn't check the gear down light until over the runway, then no light. Too late to go-around." When asked in the pilot report of how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated "do not break from procedures of your normal landings."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to verify the landing gear was down and locked, which resulted in a wheels up landing and subsequent ground fire.