Tick Tick Scrape

A Not-Uncommon Scenario

 

It had already been a long, draining day—one of those flights where fatigue settles in before the wheels ever touch the ground. A short night of sleep set the tone, and the hours aloft didn’t make things any easier. Challenging weather, an intermittent radio issue, a passenger turning unmistakably airsick, and just for good measure, an amended clearance followed by a last‑minute runway change. All you want now is for the flight to be over.

 

On final approach, the end finally feels within reach. Cleared to land. Runway in sight. You line up with the centerline, pull the power back, and ease the nose into a landing attitude. The day is almost behind you. You’re already imagining a cold drink and a real night’s sleep.

 

Then you hear it.

 

Tick. Tick.

 

A split second later comes the unmistakable sound—metal scraping across asphalt.

 

Your heart drops. The airplane lurches and begins to slide sideways across the runway. Instinct takes over and you stand on the brakes, but there’s no response. The wheels and tires are still neatly tucked away in the wheel wells, leaving nothing but aluminum skimming the pavement. The airplane grinds, shudders, and finally slides to a stop in a sickening silence.

 

Reality hits hard.

 

You shut everything down—ignition, master, fuel—your hands moving automatically as the weight of what just happened sets in. You check on your passengers, relieved to find they’re okay, and then notice the flashing red lights of the airport’s crash, fire, and rescue crews heading straight toward you.

 

The flight is over—but not in the way you imagined.

 

Prevention Strategies

 

With disciplined habits, consistent procedures, and a healthy respect for distractions, these incidents are largely preventable. A strong checklist culture turns “oops” moments into non‑events.

 

We can prevent unintentional gear-up landings by adopting disciplined checklists, consistent procedures, and awareness of common distractions. These accidents often stem from overlooked gear checks during busy approaches, but simple habits make them largely avoidable.

 

Standardize gear extension using the GUMPS checklist (Gas, Undercarriage, Mixture, Prop, Seatbelts) on downwind abeam midfield for VFR patterns or at a fixed distance on straight-ins. Leave your hand on the gear handle until lights confirm three greens and visually verify outside if possible.

 

Run GUMPS multiple times: downwind, base, and final. Set triggers like full flaps or 500 feet AGL prompt a final "three greens down and locked" callout to catch errors before flare.

 

Managing Distractions

 

Distractions are the real enemy. ATC instructions, weather changes, passenger questions, or minor anomalies can quietly derail even experienced pilots. The antidote is stability: fly unhurried patterns, verbalize any deviation from your normal flow, and never hesitate to go around if things feel rushed. Set firm personal minimums—fully configured by 1,000 feet AGL—and stick to them.

 

After Landing

 

Avoiding a gear‑up landing doesn’t mean the job is done. Many retractable‑gear airplanes have safeguards to prevent gear retraction on the ground, but none are foolproof. Confusing the gear selector with the flap handle has caused more than a few painfully expensive and embarrassing gear collapses.

 

The solution is simple: stop before you clean up. Clear the runway, bring the airplane to a full stop, and then deliberately retract flaps, open cowl flaps, switch frequencies, and handle other after‑landing tasks. A calm, methodical approach on the ground protects both your pride and your airplane.

 

 

 

Gene Benson has had a lifetime of aviation experience.  He has lived and breathed aviation from his first official flying lesson at the age of 14, to his first solo on his sixteenth birthday, to his 8,000 hours of flight instruction given. He has served as the Dean of Aeronautics for an aviation college, as an instructor for a major domestic airline, consultant to several foreign and domestic airlines, and to business aviation.  His academic background includes degrees in psychology, education, and business. His specialty now is the application of human factors to error reduction and safety in aviation and other industries. He is presently a FAASTeam Lead Representative and has recently served as a member of the NBAA Safety Committee. View Gene’s work at genebenson.comand https://www.vectorsforsafety.com/.

 

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