Piper PA-31-350 accident near Opa-Locka, Florida, June 22, 1995
On June 22, 1995 at about 4:12 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N530JB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Opa-Locka, Florida (Opa-Locka airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO COMPLY WITH MANUFACTURER INSPECTION PROCEDURES FOR HYDRAULIC LINES RESULTING IN THE FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR DOOR LINE AND LOSS OF ALL HYDRAULIC FLUID.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 1995 · about 4:12 pm local time
- Place
- Opa-Locka, Florida · Opa-Locka · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N530JB · registry record · serial 31-7952156
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR BY THE NORMAL AND EMERGENCY EXTENSION SYSTEMS. A GEAR UP LANDING WAS MADE. AFTER THE LANDING THE HYDRAULIC RESERVOIR WAS FILLED AND THE EMERGENCY EXTENSION SYSTEM WAS USED TO EXTEND THE GEAR. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR DOOR LINE WAS FOUND TO BE RUPTURED CAUSING LOSS OF ALL HYDRAULIC FLUID. THE FAILED DOOR LINE HAD A MANUFACTURE DATE OF 1979. THE AIRCRAFT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1979. PIPER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES REQUIRE THE LINE TO BE PRESSURE TESTED AFTER 10 YEARS IN SERVICE AND EVERY 5 YEARS THERE AFTER. THE LOGBOOK RECORDS SHOWED NO RECORD THAT THE FAILED LINE HAD BEEN PRESSURE TESTED IN 1994.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 38,000 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 38,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,685 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 1995; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYBG Great Harbour OF at 2:10 pm
- Destination: TMB Miami FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27L, 4,306 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:12 pm from OPF, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.