# NTSB ANC02LA104: Piper PA-31-350, N3535F, Nuiqsut, AK, August 24, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 24, 2002, 11:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Nuiqsut, AK - Coordinates: 70.209999, -151.005554 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=70.2100&lon=-151.0056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Fairbanks FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55557 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55557/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA104 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent wheels-up landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's failure to complete the prelanding checklist, his diverted attention, and a delayed gear warning horn alarm. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown - checklist - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,gear warning system - other (contributing factor) ## Analysis During a 14 CFR Part 135 scheduled commuter flight, the airplane received substantial damage when it landed with its landing gear retracted on a gravel runway. The pilot reported that during the landing sequence he was distracted, and inadvertently forgot to lower the landing gear. He did not confirm that all of the prelanding checklist items were completed. He said he did not hear the landing gear warning horn until the airplane was on the ground. ## Factual narrative On August 24, 2002, about 1120 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N3535F, sustained substantial damage during an inadvertent wheels-up landing on a gravel runway at the Nuiqsut Airport, Nuiqsut, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was being operated by Cape Smythe Air Service, Inc., of Barrow, Alaska, as Flight 182. The airline transport pilot and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company VFR flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at Barrow, about 1016. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 27, the pilot said the flight had been plagued by changes, interruptions, and distractions. He said in the landing pattern he had to alter course due to birds. As a result of the distractions, he said he missed putting the landing gear down, and landed with the landing gear in the retracted position. The pilot said the aural landing gear warning horn did not activate when the throttle settings were reduced. In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot reported he did not hear the landing gear warning horn until the airplane was on the ground. The airplane sustained substantial skin and stringer damage to the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3535F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3535F-2018-01-18), registration cancelled 2018-01-18, S/N 31-7952200, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31T7952200 - Airframe hours: 21241 - Engines: Lycoming LTIO-540-J2B 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Cape Smythe Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 23, 2002, 1 hours before - Departed: PABR, Barrow, AK - Destination: PAQT, Nuiqsut, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PAQT, Nuiqsut, runway 04, 4,300 × 50 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; flight engineer, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 17, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 16,900 total, 2,300 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 104 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: PAQT ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020824022159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020824022159A), Aug 24, 2002: Piper PA31350, Nuiqsut, AK, No damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] on August 24, 2002, at 1120 local Alaska time Mr. Baart landed an nuiqsuk airport, nuiqsuk, Alaska with the aircraft's landing… ## Other investigations on N3535F (2) 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 ANC07LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA059), Jun 29, 2007: Piper PA-31 (N3535F), Kotzebue, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: Locked parking brakes and the operator's maintenance personnel's failure to properly secure the parking brake cable at its fuselage attaching clamp. - [NTSB ANC05LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA075), May 10, 2005: Piper PA-31-350 (N3535F), Elim, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: An improper installation of a fuel line fitting by company maintenance personnel, which resulted in a fuel leak and subsequent in-flight engine compartment fire during cruise flight that was… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.