Piper PA-31-310 accident near Lumberton, New Jersey, July 14, 2023
On July 14, 2023 at about 12:08 pm local time, a 1977 Piper PA-31-310, registered N400S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Lumberton, New Jersey (Flying W 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 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
- July 14, 2023 · about 12:08 pm local time
- Place
- Lumberton, New Jersey · Flying W · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-310, built 1977 · all PA-31-310s on the register
- Registration
- N400S · registry record · serial 31-7712083
- 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 during the landing approach he was distracted and forgot to extend the airplane’s landing gear. The airplane subsequently touched down on the runway and the fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of 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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,824 hours in all; 542 in this make and model; 1,725 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 10, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,137 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 2023; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,840 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-540-A2C (piston); 5,737 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TIO-540-A2C (piston); 5,271 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N14 Lumberton NJ at 2:32 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,496 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:55 am from VAY, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photos | 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.