Cessna 551 N228MH

Summary

On 4 March 2026 at about 21:48 local time, a Cessna 551 registered N228MH, operated by SkyBlue Jet Aviation, was involved in an accident near Opa-locka, Florida, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause has been published yet; this accident is still under investigation.

Date

4 March 2026 at 21:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Opa-locka, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Miami-Opa Locka Exec (OPF)

Coordinates

25.9074, -80.2782

Aircraft

Cessna 551

Registration

N228MH

Category

Airplane

Year built

1980

Engines

2

Operator

SkyBlue Jet Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

NTSB number

ERA26LA136

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. The investigation is still open; a final report usually follows one to two years after the accident.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

On March 4, 2026, about 1648 eastern standard time, a Cessna 551, N228MH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Opa-locka, Florida. The two pilots and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 post-maintenance test-flight. The test-flight was conducted due to an avionics upgrade. The pilot-in-command (PIC) reported that the takeoff and enroute portion of the approximate 45-minute local instrument flight rules flight was uneventful. During the return to the departure airport, on an instrument landing system (ILS) approach, the PIC was flying and the second-in-command (SIC) extended the landing gear. The flight crew noted that the right main landing gear (RMLG) red cockpit indication light remained illuminated, and a warning horn sounded when full flap extension was selected. Additionally, the SIC could visually see from his seat that the RMLG was slightly misaligned. The PIC performed a missed approach and received extended vectors for a second ILS approach to allow extra time to troubleshoot the anomaly. The flight crew performed the quick reference handbook (QRH) “Landing Gear Will Not Extend.” procedure, which included activation of the blow-down bottle, but the red landing gear indication light remained illuminated. The second ILS approach terminated in a low approach with tower personnel stating that the landing gear appeared extended. The PIC performed a go-around and a visual approach for landing. The flight crew confirmed that all QRH items were completed and landed on a runway with emergency vehicles standing by. During the landing, the left main landing gear touched down, and about 2 seconds later, the right main landing gear gradually collapsed. The airplane came to rest upright on the runway and sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Several days later, following the airplane’s recovery to a hangar, an FAA inspector witnessed landing gear extension and retraction tests. Three tests were conducted. In each case, the nose landing gear and left main landing gear retracted and extended normally. The RMLG retracted normally but only extended to about a 45° position. The RMLG actuator was retained for further examination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.