Cessna 340 accident near Ft Lauderdale, Florida, March 2, 2017
On March 2, 2017 at about 3:34 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna 340, registered N340DW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Ft Lauderdale, Florida (Fort Lauderdale Executive airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
Failure of the left main landing gear downlock link, which resulted in a landing gear collapse during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 2017 · about 3:34 pm local time
- Place
- Ft Lauderdale, Florida · Fort Lauderdale Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340 A, built 1978 · all 340s on the register
- Registration
- N340DW · registry record · serial 340A-0497
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During approach, the airline transport pilot observed a cockpit indication that the landing gear was down and locked; however, the left main landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. The left propeller struck the runway, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and came to rest in the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear downlock link had separated. The airplane experienced a previous landing gear collapse about 3 years before the accident. However, it had been flown about 6 hours uneventfully after extensive repairs from the previous accident and two subsequent annual inspections. It could not be determined if these events are related.
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 collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,089 hours in all; 205 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 10, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,978 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 19, 2017; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,990 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southern Aircraft Consultancy INC Truste
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Ft Lauderdale FL at 2:30 pm
- Destination: FXE Ft Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 6,002 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from FXE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on July 7, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120. | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector Statement and Schematic | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpts from Maintenance Records | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Hobbs Meter | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.