Gear up landing in a night operation.

Attributes
ACN	262308
Time
Date	199401
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdw
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 1550
ASRS Report	262308
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On approach into midway, I was following a 737 (3 O'clock, 10 mi). The airport was not in sight, but the 737 was. When I started to lose the plane in the ground lighting, I became distracted from my normal procedures. I instinctively put the gear handle down, but neglected to check the lock light. I did not discover the gear was still up until I was on the runway. This situation occurred mainly because I failed to use a checklist and secondly because the aircraft had a history of gear problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GEAR UP LNDG IN A NIGHT OP.

Narrative: ON APCH INTO MIDWAY, I WAS FOLLOWING A 737 (3 O'CLOCK, 10 MI). THE ARPT WAS NOT IN SIGHT, BUT THE 737 WAS. WHEN I STARTED TO LOSE THE PLANE IN THE GND LIGHTING, I BECAME DISTRACTED FROM MY NORMAL PROCS. I INSTINCTIVELY PUT THE GEAR HANDLE DOWN, BUT NEGLECTED TO CHK THE LOCK LIGHT. I DID NOT DISCOVER THE GEAR WAS STILL UP UNTIL I WAS ON THE RWY. THIS SIT OCCURRED MAINLY BECAUSE I FAILED TO USE A CHKLIST AND SECONDLY BECAUSE THE ACFT HAD A HISTORY OF GEAR PROBS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.