# NTSB ANC04LA117: Piper PA-31-350, N41185, Telida, AK, September 17, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 2004, 13:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: Telida, AK - Coordinates: 55.919544, -159.490097 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9195&lon=-159.4901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 60240 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60240/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA117 ## Probable cause A failure of the pilot-in-command to extend the landing gear, which resulted in a gear-up landing and structural damage to the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airline transport certificated pilot was landing on a remote, gravel-surface runway that was 4,200 feet long, and 100 feet wide. The landing was during a scheduled passenger flight, with one passenger. The director of operations and the pilot both reported that the landing gear was not extended for landing. The airplane slid on the gravel and received damage to the flaps, propellers, and fuselage. The director of maintenance for the operator reported that the airplane fuselage repairs would necessitate a major repair, to include replacement of belly skin aft of the nose landing gear well, and replacement of the aft nose gear well bulkhead. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 2004, about 1305 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N41185, sustained substantial damage when it landed on a gravel-surfaced runway with the landing gear retracted at the Minchumina Airport, which is located about 40 miles north-northeast of Telida, 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 operated as Flight 147, by Everts Air Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, Galena, Alaska, about 1129, for a flight to Fairbanks, via Minchumina. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 17, the director of operations for the operator reported that the pilot was landing on runway 02. The director of operation said he was informed by the pilot that he did not extend the landing gear for landing. The airplane slid on the gravel and received damage to the flaps, propellers, and fuselage. In his statement, contained in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) submitted by the operator, the pilot stated that the landing gear was not extended, which resulted in a gear-up landing. On September 29, the director of maintenance for the operator reported that the airplane fuselage repairs would necessitate a major repair, to include replacement of belly skin, aft of the nose landing gear well, and replacement of the aft nose gear well bulkhead. According to the FAA's Facility Directory/Alaska Supplement, the Minchumina airport has a single gravel-surfaced runway with a 020/200 magnetic orientation. Runway 02 is 4,200 feet long and 100 feet wide. At 1256, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Minchumina was reporting in part: Wind, calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition and visibility, 5,500 feet overcast; temperature, 32 degrees F; dew point, 22 degrees F; altimeter, 30.18 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41185](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41185-2010-12-27), registration cancelled 2010-12-27, S/N 31-8553001, built 1984 (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: 31-8553001 - Airframe hours: 8189 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Tatonduk Outfitters LTD. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, September 15, 2004, 8 hours before - Departed: PAGA, Galena, AK - Destination: PAMH, Minchumina, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PAMH, Minchumina, runway 02, 4,200 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 31, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 22,657 total, 125 in this make and model, 14,750 as pilot in command, 165 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: PAMH ## 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 20040917024189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040917024189A), Sep 17, 2004: Piper PA31350, Minchumina, AK, Minor damage. (-23) The airman stated that as he reached for the landing gear control to lower the gear he received a radio call requiring that he select the appropriate… ## Other investigations on N41185 (3) 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 ANC09LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA021), Feb 19, 2009: Piper PA-31-350 (N41185), Nome, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain while on approach in flat light conditions. - [NTSB ANC06LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA093), Jul 8, 2006: Piper PA-31 (N41185), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent landing with the landing gear retracted, which resulted in structural damage to the airplane. - [NTSB ANC94LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA072), Jun 29, 1994: Piper PA-31-350 (N41185), Sheldon Point, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. FACTOR WAS THE INADEQUATE RUNWAY MARKING. 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.