LAX03LA006

During the pilot's approach for landing he became distracted looking for traffic, failed to complete the airplane's landing checklist, and slid to a stop on the runway with retracted landing gear. The pilot indicated that because he had been slightly low on the final approach course, he had maintained engine power. The pilot did not notice that the airplane's green landing gear down lights were not illuminated. No mechanical malfunctions were experienced.

On October 12, 2002, about 2320 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 310L, N2209F, was substantially damaged during landing at the North Las Vegas Airport, North Las Vegas, Nevada. The airplane slid to a stop on runway 30L with its landing gear fully retracted. Neither the commercial pilot nor the four passengers were injured. No flight plan had been filed for the local area personal flight, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from the airport about 2245.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that while performing his prelanding checklist he became distracted looking for traffic, and he forgot to extend the landing gear. The pilot stated that he was slightly low on the final approach course, so he maintained engine power. He did not notice that the airplane's green landing gear down lights were not illuminated.

The pilot additionally stated that as he retarded the engines' throttles for landing, he heard the landing gear warning horn activate. Nearly 1 second later, the airplane's propellers contacted the runway's surface. The airplane slid to a stop, veered off the runway, and entered the gravel-surfaced median that, according to the pilot, caused it to yaw about 180 degrees. The airplane came to rest with about a 2-foot-long span of the right wing extended over the runway.

The pilot also reported that he owned and operated the airplane. No mechanical malfunctions were experienced with the airplane during the flight.

At the time of the accident, the airport's air traffic control tower had closed for the evening. Following the accident, the local airport security officer and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control personnel (at another airport) were notified that the airplane had come to rest on the runway and was disabled. The airplane remained on the runway overnight. The FAA's flight service station was not notified of the mishap, and no notice to airman (NOTAM) was issued. About 0545 the following morning (prior to dawn), a departing airplane using runway 30L reported experiencing a near miss with the disabled airplane.