Amateur-built DRAGONFLY accident near Boca Raton, Florida, October 28, 1987
On October 28, 1987 at about 10:45 pm local time, a amateur-built DRAGONFLY, registered N41GK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boca Raton, Florida (Boca Raton Public airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- October 28, 1987 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Boca Raton, Florida · Boca Raton Public · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DRAGONFLY
- Registration
- N41GK · registry record · serial 818
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT CANARD TO DROP. THE LANDING GEAR ON THE LEFT CANARD THEN STRUCK THE RAISED LIP OF THE RUNWAY CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE RUNWAY.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 54 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 27, 1987; 54 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Limbach L2000601 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from PBI, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.