Bonanza 35
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 6; Flight Crew Total 860; Flight Crew Type 210
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Gear Up Landing
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Evacuated
Aircraft; Human Factors
I was taking the plane out for some currency flying. I started at ZZZ and did a few laps around the pattern there just to get the feel of the airplane again after not flying that aircraft for a few months. After I felt fairly comfortable; I opted to head over to ZZZ1 to do a few landings since it was nearby and is an interesting approach and landing. I did two landings there; then went for the third trip around the pattern (which I decided would be my final one there for the day; which it; ironically; turned out to be anyway).On the third landing; I was very focused on maintaining a very stable approach practicing a 'short field' landing. I very much remember selecting my aim point and focusing on airspeed and sink rate. There are trees at the approach end of the runway; so I needed to be sure to clear those. I must have not checked the landing gear indicator since; as I rolled into what seemed to be a very nice flare; I continued to sink until I struck pavement. I did not hear a landing gear warning horn; and after the fact; I noticed the landing gear circuit breaker had popped. I attempted to maintain directional control for a moment while the ruddervators still had some authority. I slid for a bit then came to rest on the right side of the runway.Once the aircraft stopped sliding; I then was trying to figure out what just happened; then realized that wasn't REALLY important RIGHT NOW and intentionally broke myself out of that thought process in case there was a fuel leak. I shut off mixture; fuel; mags; and master and exited the aircraft. After that I made all the appropriate phone calls; arranged a NOTAM to be filed; and arranged for the aircraft to be removed from the runway.I think the trouble was when I turned crosswind and then downwind too soon; so I reached pattern altitude right at about where I would normally start configuring for landing. Then I pulled the power back to stop the climb; while putting the gear down (or so I thought). I believe this reduction in climb while putting the gear down gave the false sensation the gear was extending. Since I was so tunnel-visioned; I don't think the following detail matters much; but the circuit breakers are hidden during flight by a small panel. Contributing; I'm sure; is that I normally fly a (fixed gear) C182.
Reporter stated that he did not notice the gear did not extend when he put the gear lever down. He stated there was no post flight diagnosis of the failure of the gear to extend electrically by a mechanic and the aircraft was over 60 years old so the insurance company just wrote it off.
BE35 pilot reported a gear up landing. The gear lever had been selected down; but the gear CB was popped and the gear did not extend.