# Accident 20250404003039A: Piper PA-34-200, Vero Beach, FL, April 4, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 4, 2025, 14:18 local time
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Airport: Vero Beach
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: P39S
- Location: 27.6535° N, 80.4155° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6535&lon=-80.4155&mi=10
- Aircraft: N333SE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N333SE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-34-200 (registry code 7103405, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 1,851 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA168) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250404003039A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON FINAL, AT 2:17 PM EST, THE MAIN GEAR TOUCHED DOWN FIRST FOLLOWED BY THE NOSE GEAR. ALL THREE LANDING GEARS TOUCHED THE RUNWAY PAVEMENT. AFTER THE NOSE GEAR TOUCH FOR TWO SECONDS, IT SUDDENLY COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED AFTER THE 1000 FOOT MARKER TO THE EXIT OF C5 TAXIWAY. HE

PERFORMED THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN CHECKLIST AND SHUT OFF ALL THE FUEL SUPPLIES. THE PROPELLER ON BOTH

ENGINES HIT THE GROUND, THE NOSE SCRATCHED THE RUNWAY PAVEMENT, AND BOTH ENGINES WERE COMPLETELY

SHUT DOWN. HE DID NOT FEATHER, BUT PERFORMED A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF THE ENGINES, AND ALL INDICATIONS OF THE LANDING GEAR BEFORE THE INCIDENT WERE VERIFIED PRECISELY.

THE PILOT INSTRUCTED HIS STUDENT TO LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT AND TO FOLLOW HIS LEAD WHEN EXITING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA25LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA168), Apr 4, 2025: Piper PA-34-200 (N333SE), Vero Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Separation of the lower nose landing gear down lock link bolt, which resulted in a collapse of the nose landing gear during landing.

## Other reports on N333SE (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20051020031009I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051020031009I), Oct 20, 2005: Piper PA34200 (N333SE), Jackson, MI, Minor damage. (-23) Instructor was performing full landing and takeoffs with student. On the third landing during rolling out at about 500 ft. the left main landing gear…
- [Incident 19961225042669I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961225042669I), Dec 25, 1996: Piper PA34200 (N333SE), Tampa, FL, Minor damage. Narrative: pilot was taxiing in the parking area at Vandenberg Airport, FL. At night. Pilot failed to observe a helicopter landing trailer and taxied into it.…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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