Small transport pilot was saved from landing gear up by a very alert tower controller.

Attributes
ACN	472922
Time
Date	200005
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sac.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl single value : 2
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sac.tower
Operator	common carrier : charter
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	controller non radar : 10 flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 1500 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	472922
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : provided flight assist flight crew : executed go around other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While approaching to land at sac airport, I reached 1000 ft AGL approximately 5 mi from the airport. I leveled at 1000 ft and elected to delay lowering the landing gear until I was closer to the airport. This was a violation of my personal checklist item in this airplane of gear down below 140 mph, 20 inches manifold pressure, 1000 ft AGL. While in the landing flare, the tower requested an immediate go around, which I did. An accident/incident was only narrowly averted by the tower controller's observance and timely action. The prelndg checklist had been completed with 'gear to go.' the cause of this near accident was relying on memory to complete the checklist, and failure to confirm 'gear down' on short final. It is said that there are those who have, and those who will, referring to gear-up lndgs. There is another category 'those who almost did' that is nearly as humiliating as being 'one who did' -- it is certainly a memorable experience. It will be a long time before I get close to a runway without having verified 'before landing checklist complete.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT PLT WAS SAVED FROM LNDG GEAR UP BY A VERY ALERT TWR CTLR.

Narrative: WHILE APCHING TO LAND AT SAC ARPT, I REACHED 1000 FT AGL APPROX 5 MI FROM THE ARPT. I LEVELED AT 1000 FT AND ELECTED TO DELAY LOWERING THE LNDG GEAR UNTIL I WAS CLOSER TO THE ARPT. THIS WAS A VIOLATION OF MY PERSONAL CHKLIST ITEM IN THIS AIRPLANE OF GEAR DOWN BELOW 140 MPH, 20 INCHES MANIFOLD PRESSURE, 1000 FT AGL. WHILE IN THE LNDG FLARE, THE TWR REQUESTED AN IMMEDIATE GAR, WHICH I DID. AN ACCIDENT/INCIDENT WAS ONLY NARROWLY AVERTED BY THE TWR CTLR'S OBSERVANCE AND TIMELY ACTION. THE PRELNDG CHKLIST HAD BEEN COMPLETED WITH 'GEAR TO GO.' THE CAUSE OF THIS NEAR ACCIDENT WAS RELYING ON MEMORY TO COMPLETE THE CHKLIST, AND FAILURE TO CONFIRM 'GEAR DOWN' ON SHORT FINAL. IT IS SAID THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE, AND THOSE WHO WILL, REFERRING TO GEAR-UP LNDGS. THERE IS ANOTHER CATEGORY 'THOSE WHO ALMOST DID' THAT IS NEARLY AS HUMILIATING AS BEING 'ONE WHO DID' -- IT IS CERTAINLY A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE. IT WILL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE I GET CLOSE TO A RWY WITHOUT HAVING VERIFIED 'BEFORE LNDG CHKLIST COMPLETE.'

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.