# NTSB ANC12CA012: Piper PA-31-350, N300ED, Kaltag, AK, December 8, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 8, 2011, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Kaltag, AK - Coordinates: 64.318885, -158.741394 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.3189&lon=-158.7414&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 82508 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82508/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82508 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA012 ## Probable cause The pilot landed without lowering the landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's self-reported fatigue. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Alertness/Fatigue: fatigue due to work schedule](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013520): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013520/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013520/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a visual approach in icing conditions, the pilot retracted the landing gear to prevent ice from building up on the gear. He reported that, as he applied power to abort the approach, he saw the runway and continued the landing. Due to fatigue and other distractions, the pilot said that he failed to re-extend the landing gear and landed the airplane gear-up. The airplane slid into a snow berm, and received substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. ## Factual narrative During a visual approach in icing conditions, the pilot retracted the landing gear to prevent ice from building up on the gear. He reported that as he applied power to abort the approach, he saw the runway, and continued the landing. Due to fatigue and other distractions the pilot said he failed to re-extend the landing gear, and landed the airplane gear-up. The airplane slid into a snow berm, and received substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N300ED](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N300ED-2012-10-03), registration cancelled 2012-10-03, S/N 31-7852008 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7852008 - Airframe hours: 29724 - Engines: IO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Warbelows Air Ventures Inc, doing business as Warbelows Air Venture - Registered owner: Snobow Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, December 4, 2011 - Departed: KYU, Koyukuk, AK - Destination: PAKV, Kaltag, AK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PAKV, Kaltag, runway 21, 3,986 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 18, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 5,960 total, 2,360 in this make and model, 5,860 as pilot in command, 177 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.55 inHg ## 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 20111208029059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111208029059A), Dec 8, 2011: Piper PA-31-350, Kaltag, AK, Substantial damage. On December 8, 2011 at 1450 AKST, pilot elected to approach the Kaltag Airport (pakv) VFR with weather conditions reporting 1 3/4SM ovc 010. Pilot operated GPS… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 9, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82508. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362805&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363094&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - 1-10-2012 Original Factual Report submitted by Regional Chief (item 3, DOCX, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362926&FileExtension=docx&FileName=1-10-2012%20Original%20Factual%20Report%20submitted%20by%20Regional%20Chief-Master 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.