Amateur-built LANCAIR IV-P accident near Feather Sound, Florida, March 8, 2026
On March 8, 2026 at about 7:41 pm local time, a 2000 amateur-built LANCAIR IV-P, registered N366TF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Feather Sound, Florida (St Pete-Clearwater Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 8, 2026 · about 7:41 pm local time
- Place
- Feather Sound, Florida · St Pete-Clearwater Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LANCAIR IV-P, built 2000
- Registration
- N366TF · registry record · serial LIV-388
- 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 “felt rushed” during an instrument approach at the destination airport. While on the instrument approach, he opted to extend the airplane’s speed brakes to descend “1,500ft within a few miles” while he maintained airspeed. The pilot mentioned that he typically would perform a before landing check at 500 ft above ground level, but failed to do so on this flight. The airplane touched down on the runway with its landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage. The pilot stated 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 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 1,335 hours in all; 256 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,281 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 3, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,912.8 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 9, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 3,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors TSIO-550-E (piston); 380 hours total
- Operator: Majul Enterprises INC
The flight
- Departed from: VRB Vero Beach FL at 7:40 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18, 9,730 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from PIE
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPIE 081953Z 22008KT 190V260 10SM BKN035 29/20 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP183 T02890200
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N366TF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.