Great Lakes 2T1A accident near Port St. Lucie, Florida, September 16, 2016
On September 16, 2016 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1977 Great Lakes 2T1A, registered N3771F, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Port St. Lucie, Florida (Treasure Coast Airpark 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 avoid the drainage pipe during the landing roll on a private grass airstrip. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's reduced forward view from the rear seat.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2016 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Port St. Lucie, Florida · Treasure Coast Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Great Lakes 2T1A 2, built 1977 · all 2T1As on the register
- Registration
- N3771F · registry record · serial 0764
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tandem-seat, tailwheel equipped biplane reported that he was flying from the rear seat which limits his forward view, "especially in the landing configuration". He further reported that during the landing roll on a private grass airstrip, the biplane impacted a drainage pipe, which resulted in a collapsed left landing gear and substantial damage to both lower wings and the lower right aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine 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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Visibility › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,500 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 14,300 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 30, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 678 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B1G6 (piston); 680 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL at 10:00 pm
- Destination: FL37 Port St. Lucie FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from KSUA, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 9, 2016. 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 | Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 2 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.