Originally Posted by
C-17 Driver
No, it is not a common occurrence. These guys screwed up. Period. There is no excuse for landing gear up. Period.
Agreed, there is no excuse for landing gear up, however there are human, enviornmental, design and mechanical factors that typically figure into an accident. Thats why procedures, checklists etc, change. 2 C5's landed short at Muscogkee, a 141 landed gear up with an extremely experienced Altus instructor on board....141 crashed into the mountains at McChord...all with squadron and wing flight examiners on board. The civilian world has the same problems.
Not trying to start an argument, but unfortunately these things are not black and white. There are those who have, and those that will, make a mistake, miss a checklist...but fortunately the problem is picked up. Going into Palmdale, the tower told the aircraft that "rollers were required for the landing" **it happens. Don't know about anyone else, but I've never flown the perfect flight...always trying, but hasn't happened yet.