Amateur-built THORP T-18 accident near Boynton Beach, Florida, March 27, 1994
On March 27, 1994 at about 12:15 pm local time, a amateur-built THORP T-18, registered N215CK, was destroyed in an accident near Boynton Beach, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S EXCEEDING THE DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE LEFT WING OUTBOARD ATTACH FITTING. THIS RESULTED IN INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE OUTBOARD LEFT WING, AND SUBSEQUENT INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN DURING AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 1994 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Boynton Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built THORP T-18 THORP T-1
- Registration
- N215CK · no longer on the register · serial JSW310
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES HEARD THE SOUND OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE INCREASE AND DECREASE SEVERAL TIMES. THEY THEN HEARD A 'LOUD POP' OR 'EXPLOSION' AND OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING IN A SPIN WITH PART OF A WING MISSING. THE OUTBOARD LEFT WING WAS FOUND 1/4 MILE FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE ALONG WITH THE LEFT AILERON AND DEBRIS FROM THE CANOPY AND CABIN OF THE AIRCRAFT. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT WING INDICATED THE OUTBOARD WING SECTION SEPARATED IN A DOWNWARD DIRECTION DUE TO OVERSTRESS AT THE POINT IT ATTACHES TO THE INBOARD SECTION. ALL OTHER SEPARATIONS OF STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS AND FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES HAD SEPARATION FEATURES TYPICAL OF OVERSTRESS. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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
- Flight time: 2,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 13, 1993; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNA Lantana FL at 12:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from PBI, 13 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.