Willis Gliderport Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Boynton Beach, Florida 33437
Sunday, January 22, 1995 14:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/22/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1410
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BOYNTON BEACH
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33437
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WILLIS GLIDERPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1X4
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 15
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1356 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID PBI
Elevation of weather observation facility 15
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2080
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 22 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1515
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 3:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N300FF
NTSB Number MIA95LA061
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GLASSAIR
Aircraft Model III
Aircraft Series Identifier III
Aircraft Serial Number 3113
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 15 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 140
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JACK G. ROUSE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1310 NEPTUNE DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City BOYNTON BEACH
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33426
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 1X4
Departure City
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1310
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 4600
Runway Width 300
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --