Piper PA-31T3 accident near Nuiqsut, AK
On September 18, 2000, a Piper PA-31T3 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Nuiqsut, AK. 5 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 18, 2000
- Place
- Nuiqsut, AK
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31T3 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 5 fatal, 5 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 70.206°N, 151.019°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X21902
Official records · ANC00MA125
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- FAA Transcripts Of Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 18, 2000, about 1510 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-31T3 airplane, N220CS, was destroyed by impact and postimpact fire after colliding with tundra-covered terrain, about 300 yards south of the Nuiqsut Airport, Nuiqsut, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled domestic commuter flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated as Flight 181 by Cape Smythe Air Service Inc., Barrow, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot and four passengers received fatal injuries; the remaining five passengers received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Deadhorse Airport, Deadhorse, Alaska, at 1445. Ground witnesses at the Nuiqsut Airport saw the airplane touch down on runway 22 with the landing gear retracted. The airplane was equipped with a fuselage-mounted belly cargo pod. The belly pod lightly scraped the runway for about 40 feet, but the airplane transitioned to a climb. As the airplane began climbing away from the runway, the ground witnesses saw the landing gear extend. The airplane climbed to about 100 to 150 feet above the ground, and then began a descending left turn. The airplane collided with the ground on a 095 degree heading. The ground witnesses did not describe observing any smoke or flames emanating from the airplane before the crash. According to surviving passenger statements and interviews, the accident flight and approach to the Nuiqsut Airport was unremarkable.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear, his improper aborted landing procedure, and inadvertent stall/mush. Factors in the accident were an improper adjustment of the landing gear warning horn system by company maintenance personnel, and the failure of the pilot to utilize the prelanding checklist.
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Browse: Alaska · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
