Piper PA-31-350 N3VM

Summary

On 26 September 2021 at about 19:25 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N3VM, operated by Aztec Worldwide Airlines Inc, was involved in an accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 September 2021 at 19:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE)

Coordinates

26.1986, -80.1741

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-350

Registration

N3VM

Category

Airplane

Year built

1973

Engines

2

Operator

Aztec Worldwide Airlines Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Treasure Cay → Fort Lauderdale

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA048

Nobody was injured.

The collapse of the left main landing gear for reasons that could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after a normal approach and landing, during the landing roll after about 5 to 6 seconds, the left main landing gear collapsed. He immediately pulled the mixtures to idle-cut-off, the left wing contacted the runway, and the airplane skidded into the grass to the left of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that he observed three gear down green indications prior to landing. Postaccident examination of the landing gear system and functional tests found that the nose and main landing gear system functioned normally, and in addition, the three green indicator lights functioned normally. The investigation was unable to duplicate any fault or discover any anomaly with the landing gear system.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.