How do you perform a gear-up landing in a flight simulator?

To perform a gear-up landing in a flight simulator, confirm the gear cannot be extended, use the aircraft’s abnormal checklist, choose a long, wide runway with little crosswind, fly a stable approach at the prescribed speed, then touch down wings-level at minimum safe speed and keep the aircraft straight during the slide.

Within our Aviation & Real-World Flying library, this is best treated as an aircraft-specific emergency exercise rather than a universal manoeuvre. In a real aircraft, the approved aircraft flight manual, pilot’s operating handbook or quick reference handbook takes priority; the generic sequence below is for simulator practice.

Gear-up landing procedure

1. Stabilise the aircraft and buy time. Maintain a safe altitude, reduce workload and use the autopilot if appropriate. A gear-only failure rarely justifies rushing the approach, but fire, fuel shortage, deteriorating weather or another system failure may make an immediate landing necessary.
2. Confirm that the gear has actually failed. Check the selector position, gear lights, warning system and relevant electrical or hydraulic indications. An unsafe light can represent a failed bulb, sensor or simulator binding rather than collapsed gear. An external camera can help diagnose a simulation problem, but it is not a substitute for cockpit indications when practising realistic procedures.
3. Run the abnormal checklist. Remain within the published landing-gear operating speeds and attempt alternate or manual extension exactly as the aircraft checklist directs. Do not repeatedly cycle the gear or reset circuit breakers without instructions; that can deplete a hydraulic or electrical reserve or worsen a mechanical jam. Our explanation of gear indications and emergency extension systems covers the underlying mechanisms.
4. Identify the final gear configuration. Establish whether all wheels are retracted, the nose wheel has failed or one main leg is down. Partial-gear landings are often more difficult because they produce asymmetric drag after touchdown, so do not apply an all-up belly-landing technique without checking the type-specific procedure.
5. Select the runway and declare the emergency. Use simulator ATC if it supports emergencies, and choose a long, wide, level runway aligned as closely as possible with the wind. Consider runway condition, crosswind, nearby terrain and the time required to reach it. Do not stretch limited fuel merely to reach a more convenient airport.
6. Fly a normal, stable approach. Use the checklist’s flap setting and target speed. If the simulated aircraft provides no special procedure, its normal landing configuration and approach speed are a better starting point than an improvised ultra-slow approach. A well-planned circuit leaves time to finish the checklist; see our guidance on flying a stable traffic pattern.
7. Secure systems at the prescribed point. Some aircraft require fuel, engines, ignition or electrical systems to be shut down before contact to reduce fire risk. Others need those systems for flaps, flight controls or a possible go-around, so never copy a light-aircraft shutdown sequence into an airliner. Complete any electrically or hydraulically powered configuration changes before removing their power source.
8. Touch down gently and slide straight. When landing is assured, bring the power to idle and use a shallow flare to minimise vertical speed without stalling high above the runway. Keep the wings level, hold the centreline and avoid forcing the aircraft down. During the slide, use rudder and aerodynamic controls while they remain effective; use wheel braking only if usable wheels are on the ground and the checklist permits it.

Once stopped, complete the shutdown or evacuation procedure represented by the aircraft. A simulator may simply register structural damage or end the flight, but the quality of the exercise should be judged by checklist discipline, alignment, touchdown attitude and directional control—not by whether the damage model displays a crash.

Which runway is best for a belly landing?

The preferred runway is usually the longest and widest suitable surface with the smallest crosswind, although an urgent secondary failure can make the nearest suitable runway the better choice.

Grass is not automatically safer because it looks softer. A smooth paved runway normally gives better alignment, known dimensions and access for emergency services. Centreline accuracy matters throughout the flare, and our runway-alignment technique explains how to correct drift without chasing the centreline.

Should you land gear-up if only one wheel extends?

There is no universal answer for partial landing-gear failure; follow the checklist for that aircraft.

• All gear retracted: keep the wings level and make the lowest-energy touchdown consistent with full control.
• Nose gear unavailable: land on the main gear and hold the nose off while aerodynamic control remains, then lower it gently as speed decays.
• One main leg unavailable: some aircraft procedures use the serviceable main gear first and hold the failed side clear temporarily; others call for retracting the remaining gear if possible. Configuration, engine position and wing clearance all affect the decision.

Do not try to stop a propeller in a particular position unless the approved procedure specifically requires it. Timing the propeller is unreliable in many simulators and distracts from speed, alignment and checklist completion.

Can you go around during a gear-up approach?

Go around if the approach is unstable and the aircraft still has adequate power, fuel and controllability. A failed landing gear does not justify continuing from excessive speed, a large centreline error or an unsafe descent rate.

Once the fuselage, engine nacelle or wing has contacted the runway, commit to the slide rather than attempting to lift off again. Before contact, however, a go-around is normally preferable to forcing a bad approach unless fire, critical fuel or another checklist condition requires an immediate landing.

Common gear-up landing mistakes

• Assuming an unsafe light proves the wheels are retracted without checking the indication system.
• Cycling the gear repeatedly instead of following the alternate-extension checklist.
• Choosing grass automatically without considering soft ground, ruts or hidden obstacles.
• Carrying excessive speed, which increases impact energy and lengthens the slide.
• Shutting off electrical or hydraulic power before setting the required flaps.
• Over-flaring, stalling onto the runway or allowing a wingtip to strike first.
• Continuing an unstable final approach when a safe go-around remains available.

How should you practise a belly landing in a simulator?

Start with an all-gear-up failure in calm weather at a familiar airport, save the flight before joining the circuit and repeat the same approach. Our method for creating repeatable landing practice helps separate aircraft-handling errors from a poor starting position.

Some simulators model alternate extension, scraping friction and structural damage in detail; others merely trigger a crash state when the fuselage touches. If the simulation ends before you can assess the slide, adjust its damage or crash-detection options for training, then review approach stability, touchdown attitude and centreline control. Practise partial-gear cases only after the basic all-up landing is consistent.