Amateur-built WINDWAGON accident near Lantana, Florida, December 26, 1987
On December 26, 1987 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built WINDWAGON, registered N5223C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lantana, Florida (Palm Beach County Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 26, 1987 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lantana, Florida · Palm Beach County Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built WINDWAGON
- Registration
- N5223C · registry record · serial 770GW
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A HIGH SPEED TAXI TEST THE ACFT INADVERTENTLY BECAME AIRBORNE. WHILE LOOKING OUT THE RT SIDE OF THE ACFT THE PLT ROLLED IT INTO A RT BANK. HE THEN LEVELED THE WINGS AFTER WHICH THE ACFT STALLED, TOUCHED DOWN AND SEPARATED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEELS FROM THE LANDING GEAR. THE MAIN LANDING GEAR THEN DUG INTO THE GROUND & THE ACFT CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP.
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: student
- Flight time: 62 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 525 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 277 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,489 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:49 pm from PBI, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.