Aeropilot S R O LEGEND 600 accident near Vero Beach, Florida, April 8, 2023
On April 8, 2023 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 2016 Aeropilot S R O LEGEND 600, registered N600LD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Vero Beach, Florida (New Hibiscus Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a nose landing gear collapse and subsequent noseover. Contributing was the rough condition of the runway, as described by the pilot, and his decision to operate from it.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 2023 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Vero Beach, Florida · New Hibiscus Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeropilot S R O LEGEND 600, built 2016
- Registration
- N600LD · registry record · serial 1531
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot departed from the turf runway at his home airport, which he described as “extremely rough,” for a solo flight in the airport traffic pattern. The pilot stated that the first 300 feet of the runway past the displaced threshold was “a very soft area” and a cone had been placed there, so he landed the airplane about 700 feet from the displaced threshold. The airplane bounced back into the air to a height of about 7 to 8 feet and the pilot added power and increased back pressure on the control wheel to hold the nose wheel off the runway. The airplane then touched down again on the main landing gear and the nose wheel again touched down on the runway. The nose wheel then contacted 3 to 5 “bumps” before settling into the turf, the lower portion of the nose landing gear separated, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The student pilot received minor injuries and the airplane’s fuselage and empennage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Review of the student pilot’s logbook revealed that his presolo aeronautical knowledge endorsement indicated that he was aware of the flight characteristics and operational limitations of the airplane, as well as the airspace rules and procedures for the airport, which he had flown the airplane in and out of and landed at on at least 18 separate occasions. He therefore should also have been aware of the runway conditions. Given this information, it is likely that the student pilot’s landing technique was not appropriate for the condition of the turf runway, and that the techniques he used to recover from the bounced landing resulted in subsequent nose landing gear collapse and noseover.
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 defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Decision related to condition
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 81 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 721 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2023; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 721 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X52 Vero Beach FL at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,120 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KVRB, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KVRB 081853Z 12012KT 10SM BKN110 28/20 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP171 T02780200=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on November 16, 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 | Memorandum for Record - Information Provided by FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpts from Student Pilot's Logbook | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpt from Legend 600 POH - Wind Speed Limits | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Weather Reports and Records - Kvrb Metars and Tafs | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Weather Reports and Records - Crosswind Component Calculator | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Array | PDF, 8 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.