# NTSB ANC11CA044: Douglas DC-6B, N600UA, Cold Bay, AK, June 12, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 12, 2011, 14:55 local (22:55 UTC) - Place: Cold Bay, AK - Coordinates: 55.205276, -162.724441 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.2053&lon=-162.7244&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration (Operations) - NTSB case key (mKey): 80758 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80758/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80758 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA044 ## Probable cause The flight crew's failure to extend the landing gear, which resulted in an inadvertent wheels up landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight crew's diverted attention. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas DC-6B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=3021712), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas DC-6B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=3021712), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas DC-6B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=3021712), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Douglas DC-6B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=3021712), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the captain, while on approach to land, he distracted the crew by pointing out a boat dock. He said that after touchdown, he realized that the landing gear was not extended, and the airplane slid on its belly, sustaining substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. He said that the crew did not hear the landing gear retracted warning horn, and the accident could have been prevented if he had not distracted the crew. The captain reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the captain, while on approach to land, he distracted the crew by pointing out a boat dock. He said that after touchdown, he realized that the landing gear was not extended, and the airplane slid on its belly, sustaining substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. In the captain's written statement to the NTSB, he reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, but indicated that the flight crew did not hear the landing gear retracted warning horn. The captain also stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had not distracted the crew. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N600UA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N600UA), registered now, S/N 44894, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-6B - Registry model: [Douglas DC-6B](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-6b) (registry code 3021712) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-2800 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-2800-series) (registry code 52026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 44894 - Airframe hours: 37334 - Engines: P & W R-2800 SERIES 2000 horsepower reciprocating; P & W R-2800 SERIES 2000 horsepower reciprocating; P & W R-2800 SERIES 2000 horsepower reciprocating; P & W R-2800 SERIES 2400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 125 - Operator: Universal Airlines Inc - Registered owner: Race Coast Avaition, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: AAIP, November 3, 2010, 98 hours before - Departed: PATG, Togiak Village, AK - Destination: PACD, Cold Bay, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PACD, Cold Bay, runway 26, 6,235 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 2, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 9,500 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 20 knots, gusting 29 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 900 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: PACD ## 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 20110612012009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110612012009A), Jun 12, 2011: Douglas DC-6B, Cold Bay, AK, Substantial damage. While approaching the pattern for runway 26 at cdb, pilot distracted the crew by pointing out the boat dock where their cargo was being prepared. Flaps were… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80758. 452 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 452 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352010&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.