Piper PA-30 accident near St. Augustine, Florida, April 18, 2023
On April 18, 2023 at about 11:20 pm local time, a 1967 Piper PA-30, registered N751WW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near St. Augustine, Florida (Northeast Florida Regional Air airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 2023 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- St. Augustine, Florida · Northeast Florida Regional Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 NO SERIES, built 1967 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N751WW · registry record · serial 30-1449
- 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 as he entered the airport environment for landing, while on about a 3-mile final approach, the air traffic control tower controller instructed him to perform a left 360° turn. The pilot completed the turn, and the controller cleared him to continue the approach and land. As the pilot continued the final approach to land, the sun was in his eyes, and he noticed two objects on the runway. He inquired the tower about what was on the runway, but before the controller could respond, he identified the objects as two F-18 fighter aircraft departing. Subsequently, during the landing flare he heard “gear gear gear” over the radio and then touched down with the landing gear retracted. The airplane skidded to a stop on the runway. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that he omitted completing his mental landing checklist of “gear, propeller, mixture, pumps, speed, stable.” The pilot reported that there were no preimpact 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Landing gear not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,202 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 142 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 5,760 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 25, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,904 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 21, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 3,725 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 6,904 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 6,904 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFB Orlando FL at 10:34 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from SGJ
Weather report (METAR): KSGJ 182356Z 04005KT 10SM 19/11 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP172 T01940106 10222 20194 53006 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 27, 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 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | 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.