Piper PA-34 accident near Boynton Beach, Florida, March 23, 1995
On March 23, 1995 at about 2:30 am local time, a Piper PA-34, registered N4546L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boynton Beach, Florida (Willis Gliger Port airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO OBTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND HIS FAILURE TO FLARE PROPERLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 1995 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Boynton Beach, Florida · Willis Gliger Port · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34 · all PA-34s on the register
- Registration
- N4546L · no longer on the register · serial 34-7770301
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD ON THE NOSE LANDING GEAR WITH ABOUT 900 FEET REMAINING ON THE 3,600-FOOT RUNWAY. THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED INTO THE AIR. THE AIRCRAFT AGAIN TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SKIDDED TO A 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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 402 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,915 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 9, 1995; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-KB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EYW Key West FL at 1:30 am
- Destination: 1X4
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 9, 3,600 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 am from PBI, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.