# Accident 20030924026789A: Piper PA31310, Yakutat, AK, September 24, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 24, 2003, 16:00 local time
- Place: Yakutat, AK
- Airport: Yakutat
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: JKGC
- Location: 55.9197° N, 159.4893° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9197&lon=-159.4893&mi=10
- Aircraft: N27987, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27987) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-310 (registry code 7103102, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31310
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 17,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 235 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC03LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA125) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030924026789A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) N27987 WAS BEING FLOWN UNDER A PART 91 RE-POSITIONING FLIGHT TO PICK UP A PART 135 CHARTER AT YAKATAGA. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS ON A VFR APPROACH INTO YAKATAGA. BECAUSE OF GUSTY CONDITIONS THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE LANDING, BUT CONTINUE TO MAKE LOW PASS, TO NOTIFY THE WAITING PASSENGERS OF HIS DECISION. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LEAVE THE GEAR UP. HALFWAY THROUGH THE LOW APPROACH, THE PILOT DECIDED THE WINDS HAD DECREASED ENOUGH TO MAKE A LANDING ON THE REMAINING HALF OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT FORGOT TO PUT THE GEAR DOWN AND LANDED GEAR UP. BECAUSE THE LOW APPROACH REQUIRED A MODERATELY HIGH POWER SETTING, THE GEAR WARNING SYSTEM NEVER ACTIVATED. THE PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT AND WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT HAD SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, INCLUDING DAMAGE TO THE WING SPAR CARRY-THROUGH.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC03LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA125), Sep 25, 2003: Piper PA-31-310 (N27987), Cape Yakataga, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to follow the prelanding checklist, which resulted in a wheels up landing when he neglected to lower the airplane's landing gear. A factor in the accident was the pilot's diverted…

## Other reports on N27987 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19940801043629I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940801043629I), Aug 1, 1994: Piper PA31310 (N27987), Twin Hills, AK, Minor damage. Nose tire went flat on landing. Slid sideways. Nose gear collapsed.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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