# NTSB ANC89LA078: Piper PA-31, N87TS, Tok Junction, AK, May 20, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 20, 1989, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Tok Junction, AK
- Coordinates: 63.179862, -143.099349 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.1799&lon=-143.0993&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5188
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89LA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5188/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA078

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR FOR LANDING. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS FAILURE TO USE A CHECKLIST.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear not extended, landing - flare/touchdown
  - checklist - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT & TWO OTHER COMPANY EMPLOYEES WERE ON A LOCAL FLIGHT TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH A NEWLY ACQUIRED PIPER NAVAJO. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT FOLLOWING A SHORT FLIGHT, HE DID NOT CONSULT THE AIRPLANE'S CHECKLIST & FAILED TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRPLANE LANDED GEAR-UP & WAS DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N87TS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N87TS), registered now, S/N 31-7300969, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Veteran'S Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: 6K8, Tok, runway 7, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 5,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 3,900 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °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).

- [Accident 19890520014169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890520014169A), May 20, 1989: Piper PA31350, Tok, AK, Substantial damage. Forgot to extend the landing gear on a familiarzation flight and landed gear up.

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.