Piper PA-31-350 accident near Kaltag, Alaska, December 8, 2011
On December 8, 2011 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N300ED, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Kaltag, Alaska (Kaltag airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot landed without lowering the landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's self-reported fatigue.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 2011 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kaltag, Alaska · Kaltag · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N300ED · registry record · serial 31-7852008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a visual approach in icing conditions, the pilot retracted the landing gear to prevent ice from building up on the gear. He reported that, as he applied power to abort the approach, he saw the runway and continued the landing. Due to fatigue and other distractions, the pilot said that he failed to re-extend the landing gear and landed the airplane gear-up. The airplane slid into a snow berm, and received substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
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
What happened, in order
- Landing gear not configured during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Alertness/Fatigue › Fatigue due to work schedule › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,960 hours in all; 2,360 in this make and model; 177 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 5,860 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 18, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29,724 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, December 4, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 7,368 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: IO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Warbelows Air Ventures INC
The flight
- Departed from: KYU Koyukuk AK at 5:15 pm
- Destination: PAKV Kaltag AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21, 3,986 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; ovct at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.55 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
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.