# NTSB ERA26LA163: Piper PA31T, N96MA, Ocean City, NJ, April 1, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: April 1, 2026, 16:35 local (20:35 UTC)
- Place: Ocean City, NJ
- Coordinates: 39.263479, -74.607476
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2635&lon=-74.6075&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202770
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA163
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202770/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA163

## Preliminary report

On April 1, 2026, about 1635 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31T1, N96MA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ocean City, New Jersey. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The pilot reported that the instrument flight rules (IFR) flight was uneventful from Gaithersburg, Maryland. The flight was cleared for a visual approach to runway 6 at Ocean City Municipal Airport (26N), Ocean City, New Jersey. The automated weather observation system (AWOS) reported the wind as calm and the pilot flew the GPS approach to runway 6, utilizing the lateral and vertical guidance. The airplane was configured for landing at the final approach fix, and the pilot flew a stable approach on the “blue” line (112 knots indicated airspeed, best one-engine inoperative climb speed), then slowed to final approach speed, once landing on the runway was assured. About 300 ft above ground level, the pilot slowed the airplane further. The airplane landed on the appropriate touchdown point, and initial deceleration seemed normal. However, about 30 knots, the pilot was unable to slow the airplane further despite applying maximum brake pressure. The brakes appeared ineffective. He continued applying maximum pressure on the brake pedals. As the airplane departed the end of the 2,972-ft-long runway, both main landing gear tires “grabbed” and the airplane veered to the left. The right main landing gear contacted soft ground and collapsed. The airplane then spun 180° and came to rest upright about 30 ft beyond the end of the runway. After securing and exiting the airplane, the pilot noticed that the windsock was indicating a direct tailwind from 240° at 15 knots. The pilot added that the windsock was not visually discernible during the approach and he was relying on the AWOS report, which indicated calm wind. After the accident, the pilot captured a screenshot on his mobile device, showing the AWOS information indicating a calm wind. He also took a photograph of the windsock and supplied the two to the NTSB. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of another airplane, N96GD, was on an IFR flight from Frederick, Maryland, and landed about 20 minutes before the accident airplane. He also reported that the AWOS was reporting calm wind but noted after touchdown on runway 6 that he had a direct tailwind in excess of 8 knots. During a telephone conversation, the airport manager at 26N stated that the AWOS was an “AV” AWOS, indicating that the altimeter setting and visibility information were certified, but that the wind information was advisory only. He added that he had not received any other reports of a discrepancy between actual wind information and that which the AWOS was broadcasting. He further stated that a weather front passed throughthe area about the time of the accident. Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey, was located about 13 miles north of the accident site. The recorded wind at ACY, at 1554, was from 240° at 8 knots. The recorded wind at ACY, at 1654, was from 130° at 8 knots. Cape May County Airport (WWD), Wildwood, New Jersey, was located about 23 miles southwest of the accident site. The recorded wind at WWD, at 1556, was from 150° at 7 knots. The recorded wind at WWD, at 1656, was from 120° at 5 knots.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31T1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103126), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-31T1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103126), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-31T1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103126), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N96MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N96MA), registered now, S/N 31T-7804005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31T (1)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31T1](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t1) (registry code 7103126) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31T-7804005
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 9635
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Avione
- Registered owner: Goldielochs Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 17, 2025
- Departed: GAI, Gaithersburg, MD
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 26N, Ocean City Municipal, runway 06, 2,972 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: ACY, 11 nm away
- METAR: METAR KACY 012054Z 13008KT 10SM FEW075 OVC090 23/13 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02280128 53002=

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.

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