# NTSB ERA26LA189: Piper PA-34-220T, N6XT, Kissimmee, FL, April 24, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 24, 2026, 17:49 UTC
- Place: Kissimmee, FL
- Coordinates: 28.290446, -81.437616 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2904&lon=-81.4376&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 15, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202893
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202893/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202893
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA189

## Probable cause

Fracture of the left main landing gear trunnion during landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing and subsequent runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that after an uneventful final approach, during the landing, the airplane made an immediate uncontrolled right turn after touching down. The pilot applied left rudder input and added full engine power, but the airplane went off the right side of the runway, through a fence, and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, engine mounts, and elevator. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear axle was bent and the left main landing gear trunnion had cracked in half. Examination of the left main landing gear trunnion’s fracture features revealed that they exhibited signatures consistent with overstress separation. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6XT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6XT), registered now, S/N 348233144 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-220T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-220T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (registry code 7103420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8233144
- Year built: 1983
- Airframe hours: 3986
- Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360-KB 220 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR LTSIO-360-KB 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Barrass John
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2025
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: ISM, Kissimmee Gateway, runway 15, 6,001 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 10, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 776 total, 65 in this make and model, 695 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: ISM
- METAR: METAR KISM 241656Z 10007KT 10SM CLR 27/14 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP149 T02670144 $

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20260424005539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260424005539A), Apr 24, 2026: Piper PA-34-220T, Kissimmee, FL, Substantial damage. After touchdown and during rollout, the aircraft veered to the right and exited the runway. The aircraft went through a fence and the left engine impacted a…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202893. 4.2 MB in all.

- Pilot aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20314927&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� pilot interview (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20534506&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� landing gear trunnion cracking (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 476 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20609662&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20landing%20gear%20trunnion%20cracking-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20519257&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20-Rel.pdf
- Evidence control form (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 386 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20534795&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form__Redacted-Rel.pdf

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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