Short Bros SD3-60 accident near San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 3, 2022
On May 3, 2022 at about 2:50 pm local time, a 1988 Short Bros SD3-60, registered N744LG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near San Juan, Puerto Rico (Luis Munoz Marin Intl airport). It was an instructional 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 crew’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 2022 · about 2:50 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- San Juan, Puerto Rico · Luis Munoz Marin Intl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Short Bros SD3-60, built 1988 · all SD3-60s on the register
- Registration
- N744LG · registry record · serial SH3744
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the operator, the flight crew was conducting one engine inoperative (OEI) training as part of a check ride. While conducting an OEI instrument landing system approach, the flight crew became task-saturated and “failed to complete the approach and final checklists.” The flight crew completed the landing to the runway with the landing gear fully retracted and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight crew reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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 gear not configured during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear selector › Not used/operated other cases naming the landing gear
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Flight crew
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Flight crew
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,216 hours in all; 950 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 1,406 as pilot in command; 664 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 12, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,758 hours in all; 2,014 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 3,458 as pilot in command; 915 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 2, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29,357 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 29, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 27,200 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67R (turboprop); 22,919 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67R (turboprop); 22,546 hours total
- Operator: Acc Integrated Services INC
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 08, 10,400 ft by 193 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from JSJ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of Airplane as Found (SJU)
Photo 2 – View of Landing Gear Handle in “Up” position (SJU)
Photo 3 – View of Main Landing Gear Wheel Pant with Gear Fully Retracted (SJU)
Photo 4 – View of Substantial Damage to Airframe (SJU)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 2023. 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 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N744LG on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Short Bros SD3 41 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Short Bros 66 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67R 10 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67R 10 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Luis Munoz Marin International · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Puerto Rico 282 since 1982 · 33 in the last ten years
- Puerto Rico 493 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA22LA219.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.