On September 17, 1998, a Piper PA-31-350 (registration N4112D) was involved in an aviation accident near Noorvik, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown, which resulted in a belly landing and substantial airframe damage. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airline transport pilot touched down on a gravel runway during a scheduled air taxi flight with the landing gear retracted, causing extensive damage to the fuselage and wing spar fittings.
What happened
A certificated airline transport pilot was conducting a scheduled air taxi operation when the incident occurred. The aircraft was approaching a gravel runway for landing. During the final approach, the pilot extended the flaps but failed to lower the landing gear. The airplane touched down on its belly rather than on the wheels.
The impact resulted in significant structural damage. The fuselage skin and stringers sustained extensive damage across a wide area. This damage spanned from the nose wheel gear doors back to the lower wing spar fitting. The aircraft was rendered inoperable due to the severity of the structural compromise.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown, which resulted in a belly landing and substantial airframe damage.
