Piper PA-31-350 accident near Tuluksak, Alaska, June 13, 2007
On June 13, 2007 at about 4:56 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N200AK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tuluksak, Alaska (Tuluksak airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power during cruise due to the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion. Factors contributing to the accident were the delayed extension of the gear, and the gear being unlocked at touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2007 · about 4:56 pm local time
- Place
- Tuluksak, Alaska · Tuluksak · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N200AK · no longer on the register · serial 31-9052180
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport certificated pilot was conducting a visual flight rules, multi-leg cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135. The pilot reported that during cruise flight the left engine fuel pressure light illuminated, and when he turned on the emergency pump and switched tanks, the light went out. A few minutes later the right engine fuel pressure light illuminated, he turned on the emergency pump and switched tanks, but the light did not extinguish. When the right engine began to surge he shut the engine down, and feathered the propeller. On short final the left engine began to surge, and he put the gear extension handle in the down position, but the gear failed to fully extend and lock prior to touchdown. The airplane sustained damage to the gear attachment points, and wings when the landing gear collapsed during landing. The pilot said that according to his calculations, the airplane had 1.2 hours of fuel onboard for the 30 minute flight. The FAA air safety inspector who witnessed the defueling of the airplane after the accident, reported that approximately 1 cup of fuel was drained from the left main tank, 1 cup from the left outboard tank, 1 gallon from the right main tank, and 2 gallons from the right outboard tank. The pilot operating manual states that the fuel capacity of the airplane is 192 gallons, and that 182 gallons is usable.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,791 hours in all; 1,567 in this make and model; 195 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 3,775 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 32,615 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 7,250 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming LTIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PALG Kalskag AK at 11:45 am
- Destination: PABE Bethel AK
- Runway 20, 2,461 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,100 ft; scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 8 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N200AK the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.