Amateur-built CONDOR III 400 accident near Boca Raton, Florida, December 3, 1983
On December 3, 1983 at about 2:10 pm local time, a amateur-built CONDOR III 400, registered N39584, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boca Raton, Florida (None airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 1983 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Boca Raton, Florida · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CONDOR III 400 CONDOR III
- Registration
- N39584 · no longer on the register · serial 831423
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) & STUDENT WERE PRACTICING APCHS IN A 2-PLACE/REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT WITH SINGLE CONTROLS. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE CFI TOLD THE STUDENT TO GO AROUND. AFTER INITIATING A CLIMB, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE. THE STUDENT OVERCONTROLLE, WHILE CORRECTING, & STALLED THE ACFT. THE CFI ASSUMED CONTROL, BUT COULD NOT GET THE STUDENT TO REMOVE HIS FEET FROM THE RUDDER PEDALS. THE ACFT DRIFTED TOWARD A TREE & ENCOUNTERED MORE TURBULENCE, THEN THE LEFT WING HIT THE TREE & THE ACFT CRASHED.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 1,894 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 1983; 125 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kawasaki 440A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:48 pm from PBI, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.