Piper PA 31 accident near Saipan, August 30, 2017
On August 30, 2017 at about 6:08 pm local time, a 1980 Piper PA 31, registered N4078J, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Saipan (Francisco C Ada/Saipan Intl airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Impact with multiple birds while retracting the landing gear, which resulted in the subsequent failure of the right inboard main landing gear door actuator hose and prevented the pilot from being able to extend the landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2017 · about 6:08 pm local time
- Place
- Saipan · Francisco C Ada/Saipan Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 31 350, built 1980 · all PA 31s on the register
- Registration
- N4078J · registry record · serial 31-8152057
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the initial climb, about 150 ft above the ground, while the landing gear were being retracted, the airplane impacted a flock of medium-sized birds. He noted that the landing gear unlock indicator remained illuminated and that the landing gear handle would not return to the up neutral position. No degradation of performance was noted, so the pilot chose to continue to his destination. About 20 miles from the airport, the pilot attempted to lower the landing gear but was unsuccessful. He contacted maintenance personnel on the ground and advised them of the landing gear issue. The ground maintenance personnel visually verified that the nose and right main landing gear (MLG) were down. The pilot performed the emergency gear extension checklist and noted little to no resistance on the hand pump. The pilot made multiple attempts to lower the landing gear without success. During the landing, the right MLG collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed snarge on both horizonal stabilizers, the left wing, and the fuselage and that the right inboard MLG door actuator hose had failed.
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
- Birdstrike during takeoff defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (IFR final approach)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Hydraulic power system › Hydraulic, main system › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,847 hours in all; 2,005 in this make and model; 186 in the last 90 days; 128 in the last 30 days; 5,714 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 18, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,341.1 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 2, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 7,368 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 1,153 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 1,593 hours total
- Operator: Star Marianas Air, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: GRO Rota Island at 4:45 pm
- Destination: GSN Saipan
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 7,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 am from PGSF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 12, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | 78J Damage Report with Pictures | PDF, 18 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.