Golden Avio S R L F30 Brio accident near Midland, Virginia, December 31, 2023
On December 31, 2023 at about 7:13 pm local time, a 2012 Golden Avio S R L F30 Brio, registered N37GA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Midland, Virginia (Warrenton/Fauquier 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 improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in damage to, and the separation of the nose wheel and fork bracket assembly, and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 2023 · about 7:13 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Virginia · Warrenton/Fauquier · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Golden Avio S R L F30 Brio, built 2012
- Registration
- N37GA · registry record · serial 004CE
- 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 he aborted a bounced, 3-point landing at a nearby airport and then decided to return to his home airport. During the subsequent landing attempt at his home airport, the nose landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. An examination of the airplane revealed that the nose wheel and nose wheel attach bracket had broken free from the rest of the nose landing gear, and these items were recovered from the aborted landing airport. Following the accident, the pilot reported that he believed that a no-flap landing may prevented the bounced landing. In an interview with the pilot after the accident flight, the pilot also reported that he performed a preflight inspection of the nose landing gear and that he found no mechanical failures or anomalies, and that the nose gear operated normally during taxi and takeoff for the accident flight. Based on this information, it is likely that the pilot’s improper recovery from the bounced landing resulted in damage that ultimately led to the failure of the nose landing gear during the subsequent landing.
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 collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine sea
- Flight time: 212 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 9, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 207.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 14, 2023; 10.7 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 315 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: XSA Tappahannock VA at 6:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from HWY
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHWY 311915Z AUTO 23004KT 10SM CLR 10/M03 A2998 RMK AO2 T00971035=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident overview
Photograph 2 – Airplane overview
Photograph 3 – Collapsed nose landing gear
Photograph 4 – Damage to fuselage structure
Photograph 5 – Nose wheel attach bracket
Photograph 6 – Nose wheel and attach bracket found at XSAThe 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 21, 2024. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 7 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.
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.