# NTSB ANC94LA072: Piper PA-31-350, N41185, Sheldon Point, AK, June 29, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 1994, 16:00 local (Jun 29, 1994, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Sheldon Point, AK - Coordinates: 62.439319, -165.149826 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4393&lon=-165.1498&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2515 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2515/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA072 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. FACTOR WAS THE INADEQUATE RUNWAY MARKING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown - airport facilities,runway marking - inadequate (contributing factor) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE TERRAIN SLOPED UP TO THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD AT AN ANGLE OF 7 TO 8 DEGREES. IT WAS THE SAME COLORED GRAVEL AS THE RUNWAY. THE THRESHOLD WAS MARKED WITH AN ORANGE CONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AT THE CREST OF THE SLOPE AND RUNWAY THRESHOLD. THE PILOT LANDED SHORT OF THE THRESHOLD, ON THE SLOPE, AND BENT THE MAIN GEAR REARWARD. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 1994, at approximately 1600 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain airplane, N41185, operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Brice, Inc., of Fairbanks, Alaska, landed short of the marked runway threshold at Sheldon Point, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured, however the airplane sustained substantial damage. The business flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, originated at Fairbanks on an IFR flight plan via St. Marys, Alaska, and on the final leg from St. Marys to Sheldon Point, no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone interview with the NTSB Investigator-in- charge, the pilot identified himself as the chief pilot for the company which he said specialized in runway construction. The pilot stated that he undershot the raised threshold which was marked by two cones placed below the actual threshold lip. Preliminary damage assessment included substantial damage to the main landing gear assembly and flaps. He categorized the airstrip as "a poor strip for Navajo's." According to photographs provided by the Pilot, the runway is a gray colored gravel and is raised approximately 5 feet above the terrain just prior to the runway's threshold. The terrain from the threshold slopes away at approximately a 7 to 8 degree slope. The threshold is marked by two single orange cones, one placed on each side of the runway just at the crest of the slope and at the runway's threshold. However, this airstrip is located in a "Bush" Community where maintenance and placement of the threshold markers is dependent on various factors. The runway is owned, operated, and maintained by the State of Alaska and the requirement is that the runway thresholds be marked with a total of 6 orange cones, three placed on each side of the runway, or by an alternate method consisting of a chevron panel, one on each side of the runway. The runway is 2200 feet long and 45 feet wide. According to the PA-31 flight manual, at a gross weight of 6500 pounds, on a paved dry level runway, the distance required for landing over a 50 obstacle is approximately 1600 feet. There were no obstacles at the approach end of runway 20. This accident was investigated by Douglas Herlihy and written by George Kobelnyk. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41185](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41185-2010-12-27), registration cancelled 2010-12-27, S/N 31-8553001, built 1984 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-8553001 - Airframe hours: 3557 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2B 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Gordon G. Clark - Registered owner: Brice Incorporated - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 17, 1993, 211 hours before - Departed: KSM, ST. MARYS, AK - Destination: SXP - Airport: SXP, Sheldon Point, runway 20, 2,190 × 45 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,791 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - 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 19940628018969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940628018969A), Jun 28, 1994: Piper PA31350, Sheldon Point, AK, Substantial damage. Landed short of gravel strip. Gear hit runway raised lip. Marginal strip for PA31. Inadequate yellow marker cones. ## Other investigations on N41185 (3) 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 ANC09LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA021), Feb 19, 2009: Piper PA-31-350 (N41185), Nome, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain while on approach in flat light conditions. - [NTSB ANC06LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA093), Jul 8, 2006: Piper PA-31 (N41185), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent landing with the landing gear retracted, which resulted in structural damage to the airplane. - [NTSB ANC04LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA117), Sep 17, 2004: Piper PA-31-350 (N41185), Telida, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A failure of the pilot-in-command to extend the landing gear, which resulted in a gear-up landing and structural damage to the airplane. 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.