# NTSB ANC86IA069: Piper PA-31-350, N41078, Nulato, AK, June 10, 1986

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 1986, 19:00 local (Jun 10, 1986, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Nulato, AK
- Coordinates: 64.719558, -158.110977 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7196&lon=-158.1110&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4614
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC86IA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4614/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86IA069

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - complacency, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

A WITNESS ON THE GROUND WATCHED THE AIRPLANE FLY THE LANDING PATTERN FOR LANDING AND AT NO TIME DID HE SEE THE LANDING GEAR EXTEND. HE WATCHED THE AIRPLANE UNTIL IT PASSED BELOW THE TREE LINE. TESTING OF THE HYDRO-MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS DID NOT REVEAL ANY PROBLEM. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED HE PLACED THE LANDING GEAR SWITCH IN THE DOWN POSITION AND SAW THREE GREEN INDICATOR LIGHTS, HOWEVER, HE DID NOT CONFIRM THE LANDING GEAR POSITION BY VIEWING THE NOSE GEAR IN THE MIRROR LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE NACELLE. THE PASSENGER, A PILOT, STATED THAT AFTER LANDING HE HEARD A WARNING HORN SOUNDING IN THE COCKPIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41078](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41078-2000-05-04), registration cancelled 2000-05-04, S/N 31-8352017 (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: 31-8352017
- Airframe hours: 800
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-54-J2BF 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Larry'S Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 29, 1986
- Departed: KYU, KOYUKUK, AK
- Destination: NUL, NULATO, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: NUL, Nulato, runway 20, 3,000 × 60 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,370 total, 135 in this make and model, 1,950 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 95 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 30 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19860609036139I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860609036139I), Jun 9, 1986: Piper PA31350, Nulato, AK, Minor damage. Landed gear up after selecting gear down and verifying with lights. Suspect mechanical failure.

## Other investigations on N41078 (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 ANC99FA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99FA074), Jun 11, 1999: Piper PA-31-350 (N41078), Tanana, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Undetermined.

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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