Berkshire CONCEPT 70 N29BW
4 July 1993 · Boynton Beach, Florida, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 4 July 1993 at about 17:30 local time, a Berkshire CONCEPT 70 registered N29BW, operated by Willis, B.n., was involved in an accident near Boynton Beach, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Boynton Beach, Florida, United States
- Nearest airport
- Willis Gliderport (1X4)
- Coordinates
- 26.5090, -80.1503
- Aircraft
- Berkshire CONCEPT 70
- Registration
- N29BW
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Willis, B.n.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA93LA150
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND THE LACK OF ADEQUATE THERMAL LIFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AFTER BEING TOWED ALOFT, THE FLIGHT PROCEEDED WEST TO LOCATE THERMALS WHICH WERE REPORTED TO BE GOOD BY ANOTHER GLIDER PILOT. THE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT 4-5 MI WEST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT, AT 1,900 FT, WHEN THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THERMALS AND ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. WHILE EN ROUTE HE ENCOUNTERED 'STRONG SINK.' HE THEN CONTINUED IN WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS 'MILD SINK', AND HE REALIZED THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO LAND AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN THE EVERGLADES. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE GLIDER GROUND LOOPED AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Berkshire CONCEPT accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jul 1992 | Berkshire CONCEPT 70 | Ephrata, Washington, United States | Jones, James P. | No injuries | - |
| 20 Feb 1996 | Berkshire CONCEPT 70 | Boynton Beach, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1983 | Berkshire CONCEPT 70 | Fairfield, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec 1993 | Cessna 650 | Tampa, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Dec 1993 | Grumman G-44A | Leesburg, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Dec 1993 | Cessna 150F | Lantana, Florida, United States | Micro Aviation Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Mar 1993 | Smith Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 600 | Panama City, Florida, United States | Cherokee Leasing, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 18 Jan 1993 | Cessna 140 | Niceville, Florida, United States | RAY, Robert G. | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Mar 1993 | Piper PA-28-140 | Kissimmee, Florida, United States | Joseph V. Fera | Serious injuries | - |