Piper PA-28R-200 accident near St. Augustine, Florida, March 5, 2026
On March 5, 2026 at about 4:55 pm local time, a 1974 Piper PA-28R-200, registered N44443, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near St. Augustine, Florida (St Augustine airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- March 5, 2026 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- St. Augustine, Florida · St Augustine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200, built 1974 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N44443 · registry record · serial 28R-7535001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, while on final approach to land he was concerned with the preceding aircraft clearing the runway and did not extend the landing gear. The airplane subsequently touched down with the landing gear retracted. The airplane came to rest on the runway and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that the airplane’s landing gear position warning horn was functional, but that he and the passengers were not able to hear it due to the noise canceling headsets that they were wearing.
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 › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 27,980 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 94 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 26,008 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 13, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,045 hours in all; 311 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,888 as pilot in command; 1,035 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 25, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,383 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jax Navy Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: NIP Jacksonville FL at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from SGJ
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSGJ 051656Z 09006KT 10SM CLR 24/20 A3026 RMK AO2 SLPNO T02390200 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.