Amateur-built III accident near Boynton Beach, Florida, January 22, 1995
On January 22, 1995 at about 7:10 pm local time, a amateur-built III, registered N300FF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boynton Beach, Florida (Willis Gliderport 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
a violent shimmy of the nose gear for undetermined reason(s), which resulted in an on-ground loss of directional control and a subsequent nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 1995 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Boynton Beach, Florida · Willis Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built III
- Registration
- N300FF · registry record · serial 3113
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was making a touch-and-go landing. During the landing, the nose gear started a violent shimmy. Subsequently, it turned from the path of travel, and the airplane nosed over. A witness, who observed the landing, confirmed the pilot's statement. Examination of the nose gear by an airframe and powerplant mechanic did not reveal evidence of a failure. No reason was found for the reported shimmy of the nose gear.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,331 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,201 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 140 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1995; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1X4 FL at 6:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 4,600 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from PBI, 6 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.