Summary
On April 18, 2020, a Piper PA31 (N88TG) was involved in an incident near Buckland, AK. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before landing due to distraction by the condition of the runway and his failure to use the Before Landing checklist.
According to the pilot, due to weather in the local area, he elected to conduct a straight in landing approach, rather than overfly the runway. After slowing the airplane's airspeed, he selected flaps down to 15°, landing gear down, followed by full flaps. The pilot stated that he was distracted by standing water on the runway, and he failed to confirm the landing gear was in the down and locked position. After landing, and realizing that the landing gear was not extended, he checked the landing gear handle which was in the down neutral position with no landing gear indicator lights illuminated. The pilot surmised that upon selection of the landing gear handle on the approach, he must have failed to place the landing gear handle in the full down position.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC20CA044. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N88TG.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before landing due to distraction by the condition of the runway and his failure to use the Before Landing checklist.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
According to the pilot, due to weather in the local area, he elected to conduct a straight in landing approach, rather than overfly the runway. After slowing the airplane's airspeed, he selected flaps down to 15°, landing gear down, followed by full flaps. The pilot stated that he was distracted by standing water on the runway, and he failed to confirm the landing gear was in the down and locked position. After landing, and realizing that the landing gear was not extended, he checked the landing gear handle which was in the down neutral position with no landing gear indicator lights illuminated. The pilot surmised that upon selection of the landing gear handle on the approach, he must have failed to place the landing gear handle in the full down position.
The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had followed the airplane's checklist and not allowed the distractions and deviation from routine to alter his normal procedures.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC20CA044