March 16, 2013, Leesburg, Fla., Mooney M20F Executive 21

The airplane was substantially damaged during a gear-up landing at about 1130 Eastern time. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that while practicing slow flight, he attempted to extend the flaps and landing gear. The flaps extended, but he heard a “snap” and the landing gear did not extend. Additionally, there was no cockpit indication of the landing gear being retracted or extended.

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

An airplane sustained substantial damage during a gear-up landing after its landing gear failed to extend.
The pilot reported hearing a "snap" when attempting to extend the landing gear, and both normal and emergency extension procedures were unsuccessful.
Control tower personnel confirmed the landing gear was not extended before the pilot performed a gear-up landing on a grassy area.

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The airplane was substantially damaged during a gear-up landing at about 1130 Eastern time. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The pilot reported that while practicing slow flight, he attempted to extend the flaps and landing gear. The flaps extended, but he heard a “snap” and the landing gear did not extend. Additionally, there was no cockpit indication of the landing gear being retracted or extended. Utilizing the pilot operating handbook, he cycled the landing gear with no success. He then attempted the emergency landing gear extension procedure, also with no success.