# NTSB ANC25LA117: Piper PA-31, N16SC, Kotlik, AK, October 1, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 30, 2025, 19:42 local (Oct 1, 2025, 03:42 UTC)
- Place: Kotlik, AK
- Coordinates: 63.030667, -163.53266
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0307&lon=-163.5327&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201809
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201809/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201809
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA117

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=7103103), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md)
- [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7103103), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/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, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=7103103), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md)
- [Workload management: task overload](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064025/cases.md?model=7103103), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064025/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103103), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern he became distracted by a rain squall which resulted in his failure to extend the landing gear, and the airplane subsequently landed gear-up. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during the gear-up landing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16SC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16SC), registered now, S/N 31-639, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31) (registry code 7103103) (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: 31-639
- Year built: 1969
- Airframe hours: 11750.1
- Engines: Lycoming TIO540-A2C 210 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming TIO-540-A2C 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 135
- Operator: Paklook Air, doing business as Yute Commuter Service
- Registered owner: Western Alaska Aircraft Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 2025
- Departed: Z09, Kasigluk, AK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: PFKO, Kotlik Airport, runway 20, 4,400 × 100 ft, gravel
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial, 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 13, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,034 total, 261 in this make and model, 2,888 as pilot in command, 337 in the last 90 days, 114 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 29.68 inHg
- Observed at: PFKO
- METAR: PFKO 301856Z AUTO 13013KT 10SM CLR 01/M06 A2968 RMK AO2 SLP049 T00061061 FZRANO $,M

## 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 20250930014159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250930014159A), Sep 30, 2025: Piper PA-31, Kotlik, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot reported they got distracted by rain/weather on the downwind when performing their flow, missed the step of lowering the landing gear and then missed the…

## Other investigations on N16SC (1)

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 LAX93LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA109), Feb 1, 1993: Piper PA-31 (N16SC), Columbia, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDEPATH WHILE ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT LIGHTING CONDITIONS WHICH MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE PILOT'S PERCEPTUAL…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201809. 4.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19441130&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA117%20Kotlik%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 863 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19441679&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA117%20Photographs-Rel.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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