Piper PA31 accident near Leesburg, Florida, March 8, 2019
On March 8, 2019 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1979 Piper PA31, registered N45MJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Leesburg, Florida (Leesburg Intl 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
Maintenance personnel’s improper rigging of the main landing gear actuators, which resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2019 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Leesburg, Florida · Leesburg Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA31 325, built 1979 · all PA31s on the register
- Registration
- N45MJ · registry record · serial 31-7912104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while his airplane was undergoing an annual inspection, maintenance personnel suggested that an inner landing gear door kit be installed. After the door kit installation was completed, numerous test flights were conducted. Rigging adjustments were made after each flight, and while taxiing back to the ramp following the last flight, the right landing gear collapsed. A postaccident extension and retraction test were performed using a hydraulic test unit. Both normal and emergency (hand pump) landing gear extension and retraction tests were performed. When checking the actuator rigging, both left and right main landing gear actuators did not drive the main gear into a locked position. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the landing gear system were observed, thus it is likely that the rigging condition resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear.
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 taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Repair › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,385 hours in all; 694 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 3,385 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 8, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,984 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 3,745 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-540-J2B (piston); 2,793 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LTIO-540-J2B (piston); 2,793 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LEE Orlando FL at 2:50 pm
- Destination: LEE Orlando FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 6,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 3:29 pm from LEE, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 7, 2022. 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 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum of Record FAA Email Correspondence | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Actuator Rigging Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 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.