Aircraft: Piper Navajo. Injuries: None. Location: Kaltag, Alaska Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot, who was attempting to land in icing conditions, had a hard time seeing the runway. He retracted the landing gear to prevent ice from building up on the gear.
As he applied power to abort the approach, he suddenly saw the runway and decided to continue the landing. The pilot forgot to re-deploy the landing gear and the airplane landed gear-up and slid into a snow berm.
The pilot said that due to fatigue and other distractions, he failed to re-extend the landing gear.
Probable cause: The pilot landed without lowering the landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-reported fatigue.
NTSB Identification: ANC12CA012
This December 2011 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Don’t forget “GUMP”:
1. G: GEAR down
2. U: UNDERCARRIAGE down
3. M: MAKE sure the gear is down
4. P: PUT the gear down RIGHT NOW
Bullseye Tom…the checklist can bring any aviator in any condition ‘back’ into focus….
When you go missed/go-around, you GO MISSED/GO-AROUND!!!!! Fatigue+flying don’t mix. Unfortunately with Part 91 not being regulated and the 135/121 rules being a joke, this isn’t surprising. Sleep Apnea < Rest rules