Piper PA-31-350 accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, September 26, 2021
On September 26, 2021 at about 7:25 pm local time, a 1973 Piper PA-31-350, registered N3VM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Fort Lauderdale Executive airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The collapse of the left main landing gear for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2021 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida · Fort Lauderdale Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 NO SERIES, built 1973 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N3VM · registry record · serial 31-7305069
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after a normal approach and landing, during the landing roll after about 5 to 6 seconds, the left main landing gear collapsed. He immediately pulled the mixtures to idle-cut-off, the left wing contacted the runway, and the airplane skidded into the grass to the left of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that he observed three gear down green indications prior to landing. Postaccident examination of the landing gear system and functional tests found that the nose and main landing gear system functioned normally, and in addition, the three green indicator lights functioned normally. The investigation was unable to duplicate any fault or discover any anomaly with the landing gear system.
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
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,796 hours in all; 4,858 in this make and model; 163 in the last 90 days; 81 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 13, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,864 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 23, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 5,743 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 11,098 hours total
- Operator: Aztec Worldwide Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: MYAT Treasure Cay OF at 6:30 pm
- Destination: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 09/2, 6,002 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from FXE
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFXE 261953Z 05009KT 10SM FEW033 FEW050 SCT090 30/22 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP166 T03000222=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 18, 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 | NTSB Memorandum (Landing Gear Exam) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | 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.