# NTSB ANC15CA027: Piper PA 31-350, N4079H, Homer, AK, May 17, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 16, 2015, 16:15 local (May 17, 2015, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Homer, AK
- Coordinates: 59.647777, -151.470001
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.6478&lon=-151.4700&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: 8 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 8, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91231
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15CA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91231/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91231
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA027

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to continue the approach to landing while distracted and his failure to complete the landing checklist.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: landing gear selector](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=7103110), [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: 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)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing a retractable landing gear-equipped, twin engine airplane at an uncontrolled airport. While on final approach, an airplane that landed in front of him reported a moose in the vicinity of the runway. An airport maintenance person announced on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) that he was attempting to chase the moose off of the runway. The pilot became distracted trying to avoid wake turbulence from the preceding airplane and monitor the location of the vehicle and moose and failed to extend the landing gear prior to landing. During touchdown, the airplane contacted the runway with the landing gear retracted, and it slid about 1,200 feet. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was landing a retractable landing gear-equipped, twin engine airplane at an uncontrolled airport. While on final approach, an airplane that landed in front of him reported a moose in the vicinity of the runway. An airport maintenance person announced on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) that he was attempting to chase the moose off of the runway. The pilot became distracted trying to avoid wake turbulence from the preceding airplane and monitor the location of the vehicle and moose and failed to extend the landing gear prior to landing. During touchdown, the airplane contacted the runway with the landing gear retracted, and it slid about 1,200 feet. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4079H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4079H), registered now, S/N 31-8152074, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 31-350 (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: 31-8152074
- Year built: 1981
- Airframe hours: 8438.2
- Engines: LYCOMING LTI0-540-J2B 350 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TI0-540-J2B 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: J And M Alaska Air Tours Inc, doing business as Alaska Air Transit
- Registered owner: Hinterland Holdings LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2015, 30 hours before
- Departed: 7KA, TATITLEK, AK
- Destination: HOM, Homer, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: HOM, Homer, runway 22, 6,701 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 3, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,259 total, 238.1 in this make and model, 3,200 as pilot in command, 162.3 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 7.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: PAHO

## 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 20150516008679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150516008679A), May 16, 2015: Piper PA-31-350, Homer, AK, Substantial damage. Homer, AK (hom): PA31, gear up landing rwy 22. Aircraft was flying part 135 for Alaska air transit

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91231. 917 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 862 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428116&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428117&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.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.

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