Piper PA46 accident near Immokalee, Florida, October 26, 2021
On October 26, 2021 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 1996 Piper PA46, registered N305JD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Immokalee, Florida (Immokalee Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action which resulted in the airplane impacting terrain short of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 2021 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Immokalee, Florida · Immokalee Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA46 350P, built 1996 · all PA46s on the register
- Registration
- N305JD · no longer on the register · serial 4636061
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he and his instructor were practicing a simulated engine-out approach and landing. While on the base leg to the runway, the landing gear was extended, and one notch of flaps were added. After turning onto final, the descent rate “seemed to increase,” and the flight instructor advanced the power lever, however the airplane was too low and impacted swampy terrain about 1,000 ft short of the runway before engine power increased, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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 area undershoot during landing defining event
- Simulated/training event during approach (VFR pattern downwind)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,028 hours in all; 1,133 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,962 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 26, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 12,000 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 21,700 as pilot in command; 11,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,786.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 2020
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-35 (turboprop); 1,775 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IMM Immokalee FL at 5:57 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KRSW, 21 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRSW 261853Z 31009KT 10SM BKN043 29/22 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP109 T02890217
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 13, 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 | Statement from Flight Instructor | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photograph | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | 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.