# NTSB ANC05CA078: Piper PA-31-310, N65MR, Manokotak, AK, May 26, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 26, 2005, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Manokotak, AK
- Coordinates: 58.990276, -159.050003
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.9903&lon=-159.0500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA-ANC FSDO 03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61608
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61608/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA078

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear.  A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to use the checklist.

## 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)
  - checklist - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The commercial certificated pilot reported that during the base leg portion of his approach to the airport, he lowered partial flaps, but did not lower the landing gear.  As the approach to the airport continued, the pilot said he failed to complete the landing checklist, and landed with the landing gear retracted.  The airplane received structural damage to the fuselage, necessitating replacement/repair of several bulkheads, and a large area of belly skin from the nose wheel to the tail.

## Factual narrative

On May 26, 2005, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-31-310 airplane, N65MR, sustained substantial damage when it landed with the landing gear retracted at the Manokotak Airport, Manokotak, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The airplane was operated by the Missionary Aviation Repair Center, Soldotna, Alaska.  The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The flight originated at the Dillingham Airport, Dillingham, Alaska, about 1515, and no flight plan was filed, nor was one required.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 27, the pilot reported that during the base leg portion of his approach to the airport, he lowered partial flaps, but did not lower the landing gear.  As the approach to the airport continued, the pilot said he failed to complete the landing checklist, and landed with the landing gear retracted.

The airplane received structural damage to the fuselage, necessitating replacement/repair of several bulkheads, and a large area of belly skin from the nose wheel to the tail.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N65MR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65MR), registered now, S/N 31-347, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-310
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (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: 31-347
- Airframe hours: 15775
- Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-A2B reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Missionary Aviation Repair Center
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PADL, Dillingham, AK
- Destination: 17Z, Manokotak, AK
- Airport: 17Z, Manokotak, runway 01

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 4,792 total, 64 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.62 inHg
- Observed at: PADL

## 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 20050526011459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050526011459A), May 26, 2005: Piper PA31310, Manokotak, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot landed aircraft at the Manokotak, AK village airport, about 15 miles west of the dillingham, AK VOR, with the landing gear in the up position. He…

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.

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