Amateur-built GLASAIR III accident near Boynton Beach, Florida, August 8, 1996
On August 8, 1996 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built GLASAIR III, registered N340, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boynton Beach, Florida. 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
inadequate preflight by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power, due to an inadequate supply of fuel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 1996 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Boynton Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASAIR III GLASAIR II
- Registration
- N340 · no longer on the register · serial 3008
- 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 drained the fuel sumps and visually checked the main fuel tanks during his preflight inspection. He could only see dampness inside the fuel tank with a little visible fuel located next to the wing root. The pilot completed an engine run up, taxied to the active runway, and departed. During the initial climb at about 4,500 feet, the engine sputtered and quit. The pilot turned on the boost pump and moved the fuel selector from the main tank, to the header tank, and back to the main tank, but the engine did not restart. He notified approach control of the emergency and made a 180-degree turn back toward the airport. Realizing the airplane would not reach the airport, the pilot attempted a forced landing in an open field. However, he was unable to reach the selected field, and the main landing gear collided with bushes. The nose of the airplane then pitched down, and the airplane collided with the terrain in a nose down attitude. Examination of the fuel tanks revealed no fuel was present. Also, no precrash mechanical failure or malfunction of the engine assembly or accessories was found.
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: 2,015 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,805 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1996; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNA Lantana FL at 9:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from PBI, 16 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.
Other NTSB records under N340 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.