Pipistrel TAURUS 503 accident near Boynton Beach, Florida, February 9, 2026
On February 9, 2026 at about 8:14 pm local time, a 2009 Pipistrel TAURUS 503, registered N414HG, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Boynton Beach, Florida (Willis Gliderport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 2026 · about 8:14 pm local time
- Place
- Boynton Beach, Florida · Willis Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pipistrel TAURUS 503 NO SERIES, built 2009 · all TAURUS 503s on the register
- Registration
- N414HG · registry record · serial 047 T 503
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 9, 2026, about 1514 eastern standard time, a Pipistrel Taurus 503 motorglider, N414HG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Willis Gliderport (FA44), Boynton Beach, Florida. The pilot was seriously injured. The motorglider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Video with audio from a Ring camera captured the motorglider taxiing to the west end of the gliderport where it stopped facing east with the engine running for about 2 minutes and 10 seconds. The audio captured the sound of the engine rpm increasing followed by the motorglider beginning the takeoff roll. The video captured the motorglider rotating about 570 ft down the runway, the motorglider exited the camera’s field of view but the audio continued to record. A pilot rated witness located inside his residence on the north side of the gliderport about 1,900 ft east of the western edge of the runway reported hearing the motorglider depart. When the motorglider was past his house he heard the engine quit. He went outside and observed it flying in a westerly direction about 350 ft south of the runway at an altitude of between 200 and 300 ft. He noted the engine was extended but was not running. The motorglider continued to the west a “few hundred feet” before banking to the right; the right wing dropped, and the glider descended in a nose-low attitude while rotating to the right. The motorglider impacted the ground in a near vertical position and fell back, coming to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the motorglider which was equipped with an airframe rescue parachute revealed it was not deployed and a safety pin was in the emergency parachute release handle. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern downwind)
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,042 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Runway 9, 3,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from KPBI, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPBI 091953Z 11011KT 10SM SCT047 23/11 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP234 T02330111 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26FA110.