Those Who Have and Those Who Refuse To

Monday, December 21, 2020 at 03:28 PM ET

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On The Cover: It's rare to see a pilot who inadvertently flies his pride and joy to a gear-up landing, and who wants to talk much about it, especially in public. But that's exactly what John Dalman's article beginning on page 16 does. It's a tale of acceptance, introspection and determination it won't happen again. Image by the author.

Key Takeaways:

A seasoned pilot experienced a gear-up landing attributed to a chain of human factors, including fatigue, get-home-itis, and non-standard procedures in complex airspace.
The FAA investigation and reexamination process was professional, confirming the pilot's skill but highlighting crucial decision-making and procedural errors, which the pilot openly accepted as learning points.
In response, the pilot committed to significant safety improvements, including adopting more rigorous pre-landing checklists (GUMPS) and a "gear before flaps" sequence, alongside planning aircraft modifications like an enhanced gear warning system.
Despite initial fears regarding reputation and continued certification, the pilot viewed the incident as an invaluable, albeit costly, opportunity for self-assessment and growth, reinforcing a commitment to safer flying.

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Editor’s note: The following is a first-person account of an inadvertent gear-up landing and its aftermath, written by the incident pilot and adapted from a series of posts at BeechTalk.com, an online resource for Beechcraft owners and pilots of all aircraft types.

On August 5, 2020, I landed my much-loved Beechcraft F33A Bonanza gear-up at my home airport. What follows details my interpretations of the causes and lessons learned from this incident, and its aftermath, in the hope my fellow pilots can learn from my mistakes. By way of background, I earned my private certificate in 1986, adding the instrument rating a couple of years later. I now hold a commercial certificate with single- and multi-engine land ratings, plus the instrument rating.