Fairbanks International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
Wednesday, March 13, 2002 15:53 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Upon entering the pattern, the pilot was given instructions by the tower controllers he had not anticipated. In complying with the instructions, he altered his normal landing procedures, and failed to complete his before landing checklist. He subsequently landed the airplane with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to fuselage stringers and skin.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to complete his prelanding checklist, and a subsequent inadvertent wheels up landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/13/2002
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1553
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Fairbanks
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99709
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 644849N
Event Location Longitude 1475135W
Event Location Airport Fairbanks International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FAI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 434
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PAFA
Elevation of weather observation facility 434
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.13
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 9
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11854
NTSB Notification Source FAA, ANC - ROC
NTSB Notification Date Mar 13 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1609
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 18 2002 10:15AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Fairbanks

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3527U
NTSB Number ANC02LA022
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 317952161
Certified Max Gross Weight 7368
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 9
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Mar 10 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10.4
Airframe Hours 20891.5
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Warbelow Air Ventures, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3750 University Avenue South
Aircraft Owner City Fairbanks
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99709
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code WVVA
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PFYU
Departure City Fort Yukon
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1301
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PAFA
Destination City Fairbanks
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 1 2002 6:04PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 01L
Runway Length 11800
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --