17 May 2015: PIPER PA 31-350 350 — Alaska Air Transit — Homer, AK

No fatalitiesHomer, AK, United States

A pilot failed to extend the landing gear of a twin-engine aircraft during landing at an uncontrolled airport in Alaska due to distractions.

What happened

On May 17, 2015, a Piper PA 31-350, registration N4079H, was on final approach to an uncontrolled airport in Homer, Alaska. During the approach, an aircraft that had previously landed reported the presence of a moose near the runway. Simultaneously, an airport maintenance worker used the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) to announce an attempt to chase the moose away from the runway.

While attempting to monitor the location of the moose and the maintenance vehicle, and while also managing potential wake turbulence from the preceding aircraft, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear. The aircraft touched down with the gear in the retracted position, causing the plane to slide approximately 1,200 feet along the runway. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, and the pilot was not injured.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before touchdown, compounded by the pilot's decision to continue the approach while distracted and the failure to complete the landing checklist.

Contributing factors

PilotNot used/operated