# NTSB ANC91LA118: Piper PA-31-350, N27472, Emmonak, AK, August 8, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 8, 1991, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Emmonak, AK
- Coordinates: 62.790443, -164.550292 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.7904&lon=-164.5503&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5595
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91LA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5595/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA118

## Probable cause

THAT THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL.  CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE CHECKLIST WAS NOT FOLLOWED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run
  - gear retraction - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR INSTEAD OF THE FLAPS. THIS TOOK PLACE BETWEEN THE LANDING ROLL AND TAKEOFF ROLL OF A TOUCH AND GO.  THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ON THE RUNWAY APPROXIMATELY MID FIELD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27472](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27472-2021-09-20), registration cancelled 2021-09-20, S/N 31-7852019 (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: 317852019
- Airframe hours: 3247
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-52BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 2, 1991, 3 hours before
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: ENM, Emmonak, runway 34, 4,400 × 75 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 1 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19910808032689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910808032689A), Aug 8, 1991: Piper PA31350, Emmonak, AK, Substantial damage. Student inadvertently raised gear instead of flaps on touch and go.

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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