Piper PA-31-350 accident near Portland, Oregon, March 20, 2008
On March 20, 2008 at about 5:26 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N4098A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Portland, Oregon (Portland airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of company maintenance personnel to install the upper pivot bolt through the pivot hole in the upper end of the landing gear actuating rod, and the company maintenance inspector's inadequate inspection of the work performed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2008 · about 5:26 pm local time
- Place
- Portland, Oregon · Portland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N4098A · registry record · serial 31-8152200
- 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 when he was preparing to land at his destination, he found that the right main landing gear failed to extend. The pilot diverted back to the originating airport. Maintenance personnel discussed the problem with the pilot and various remedial actions were tried without success. The pilot declared an emergency, and landed with the right main gear retracted. During the recovery efforts, the airplane was jacked up in order to extend the right main landing gear, which locked in place. The airplane was then towed to a hangar. Examination revealed that the upper pivot bolt had not been installed through the pivot hole in the upper end of the actuating rod during recent maintenance. The mechanic who did the repair and the inspector who signed off the repair did not detect the discrepancy.
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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Inoperative
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Post maintenance inspection › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 280 in the last 90 days; 110 in the last 30 days; 1,375 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,547 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 1, 2008; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TSIO-540-J2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TSIO-540-J2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ameriflight LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PDX Portland OR at 2:45 pm
- Destination: RBG Roseburg OR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 03, 7,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,400 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 pm from PDX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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 N4098A 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.