Piper PA-31-350 accident near Emmonak, Alaska, August 8, 1991
On August 8, 1991 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N27472, was substantially damaged in an accident near Emmonak, Alaska (Emmonak airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THAT THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE CHECKLIST WAS NOT FOLLOWED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 1991 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Emmonak, Alaska · Emmonak · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N27472 · no longer on the register · serial 317852019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR INSTEAD OF THE FLAPS. THIS TOOK PLACE BETWEEN THE LANDING ROLL AND TAKEOFF ROLL OF A TOUCH AND GO. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ON THE RUNWAY APPROXIMATELY MID FIELD.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,247 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 2, 1991; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-52BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 34, 4,400 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.