NTSB report says incomplete landing checklist led to private plane's belly landing at Page Field

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board says that the pilot of a plane that made a belly landing at Page Field on May 9 was interrupted during a before landing checklist and did not complete it and missed putting down the landing gear.

According to the NTSB report, the captain and first officer were in the plane. Throughout the flight the captain was instructing the officer. The report says the first officer couldn't recall whether he verbally called for the before landing checklist.

The report says the captain had begun the before landing checklist, but was interrupted when air traffic control issued them their landing clearance and a warning system began turning on and off. The captain said he didn't go back over the checklist after the interruption and didn't call the checklist complete.

The plane landed with its landing gear retracted at Page Field. Both occupants of the plane were uninjured. The report says the fuselage of the plane sustained major damage.

Previous coverage: No injuries after plane makes belly landing at Page Field

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