NTSB Factual Report

On August 4, 2004, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 402C airplane, N300SN, sustained substantial damage during an inadvertent gear-up landing at the Huslia Airport, Huslia, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Arctic Circle Air Service of Fairbanks, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) cargo flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, about 1400.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 4, the director of operations for the operator said the pilot told him he entered the airport area intending to land on one runway, but then elected to change to the opposite end. The pilot told him that in the confusion he forgot to extend the landing gear. The director of operations said the airplane sustained damage to the bottom of the fuselage, flaps, engine nacelles, and propellers. He said prior to the accident there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

In a written statement dated August 4, the pilot reported that he entered the airport area intending to land on one runway, but elected to change to the oposite end. He wrote that he was watching a departing airplane, and had placed his hand on the landing gear handle, but forgot to extend the landing gear, and landed gear-up.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear, which resulted in an inadvertent wheels up landing. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's diverted attention.