Willis Gliderport Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Boynton Beach, Florida 33467
Saturday, August 9, 2008 8:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non-qualified pilot initiated a takeoff to the west in a weight-shift aircraft. Winds prevailed from the south at the time. After becoming airborne he was unable to maintain control of the aircraft which descended, collided with trees, and then impacted the edge of a canal. No evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction with the aircraft was noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/9/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Boynton Beach
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33467
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 263253N
Event Location Longitude 0801253W
Event Location Airport Willis Gliderport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FA44
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 44
Weather Observation Facility ID PBI
Elevation of weather observation facility 19
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25955
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 9 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 15 2009 3:55PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Fort Lauderdale

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3880A
NTSB Number MIA08LA162
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name NORTH WING
Aircraft Model APACHE CLA
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 00001
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category --
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TANDIELD THEODORE E JR
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City RIVIERA BEACH
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33404
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name TANDIELD THEODORE E JR
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City RIVIERA BEACH
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33404
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 FA44
Departure City Boynton Beach
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 28 2009 9:37AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 3600
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --