What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot reported that after departing from runway 17 at Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport (klbl) in Liberal, KS on March 20, 2025, a loud slapping sound was heard originating from outside the right front door. The pilot determined that the sound was caused by the right seatbelt caught outside the door. To remedy the issue, the pilot elected to circle back and land.
The pilot reported distractions that included the loud slapping sound, another aircraft communicating intentions to land at klbl, and a crosswind during final approach. While concentrating on the landing, the pilot reported not performing any before-landing checks. The aircraft subsequently landed gear up on runway 17.
No mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported or discovered that would have precluded normal operation of the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER DEPARTING FROM RUNWAY 17 AT LIBERAL MID-AMERICA REGIONAL AIRPORT (KLBL) IN LIBERAL, KS ON MARCH 20, 2025, A LOUD SLAPPING SOUND WAS HEARD ORIGINATING FROM OUTSIDE THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR. THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT THE SOUND WAS CAUSED BY THE RIGHT SEATBELT CAUGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR. TO REMEDY THE ISSUE, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CIRCLE BACK AND LAND.
THE PILOT REPORTED DISTRACTIONS THAT INCLUDED THE LOUD SLAPPING SOUND, ANOTHER AIRCRAFT COMMUNICATING INTENTIONS TO LAND AT KLBL, AND A CROSSWIND DURING FINAL APPROACH. WHILE CONCENTRATING ON THE LANDING, THE PILOT REPORTED NOT PERFORMING ANY BEFORE-LANDING CHECKS. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED GEAR UP ON RUNWAY 17.
NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE REPORTED OR DISCOVERED THAT WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.