Nose-Gear Failure Led to a Deliberate Gear-Up Landing

The nose gear would not cooperate

On 29 August 2025, Piper PA-23-250 Aztec C N930MD developed a nose-gear malfunction at Treasure Coast Airpark in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The sole pilot did not immediately land. Instead, the aircraft remained in the area while the problem was assessed and fuel was burned.

Nearly two hours were spent preparing for the landing

The aircraft circled for nearly two hours. That gave the pilot time to troubleshoot the landing-gear problem, reduce fuel weight and prepare the airport environment for an abnormal landing. The aircraft ultimately made a nose-gear-up landing on Runway 28.

The aircraft landed and the pilot survived

The sole pilot was uninjured and the aircraft sustained minor damage. The event therefore ended without injury even though the aircraft could not deploy the nose gear normally. The source does not establish that the pilot attempted to cycle the gear a particular number of times or that any specific component failed beyond the documented nose-gear malfunction.

The Landing Outcome Is Clear, the Component Failure Is Not

The nearly two-hour period before landing also means the aircraft was not simply forced onto the runway immediately after the first indication. The pilot had time to assess the problem and reduce fuel before selecting the final landing configuration. That is a documented sequence and should remain the focus.

Accident Facts

Sources

• Aviation Safety Network record: https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/541354
• Aircraft reference: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n930md