Piper PA-32-301 accident near Orlando, Florida, November 23, 2021
On November 23, 2021 at about 6:40 pm local time, a 1980 Piper PA-32-301, registered N81991, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Orlando, Florida (Sanford airport). It was a personal flight 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
The pilot’s inadequate compensation for winds 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
- November 23, 2021 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · Sanford · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301, built 1980 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N81991 · registry record · serial 32-8006044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot explained that he was landing with a gusting 70° left crosswind and felt the windspeed and gust spread were within his capabilities. During rollout, the wind pushed the tail to the airplane’s right, the nose to the left, and the pilot was “hesitant to give the airplane more right rudder” to maintain directional control before it departed the left side of the runway. Following the runway excursion, the nose landing gear dug into the turf surface, bent the nose gear aft, and bent the engine mount, which substantially damaged the airplane. The pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have prevented 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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Ability to respond/compensate
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 263.3 hours in all; 117.3 in this make and model; 24.1 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,015 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 5, 2021; 30 hours since
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 19,854 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUA Stuart FL at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 9R, 5,839 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KSFB, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSFB 231753Z 02016G23KT 10SM FEW041 18/06 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP192 T01780061 10183 20117 58009
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 May 6, 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 Memo for Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement Pilot Information and Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records Annual Inspection | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 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.