NTSB MIA93LA150 — 1993-07-04 · BOYNTON BEACH, Florida, United States

N29BW has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (EIRIAVION OY PIK 20E), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

N29BW BERKSHIRE CONCEPT 70 None

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND THE LACK OF ADEQUATE THERMAL LIFT.

Factual 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1993_MIA93LA150.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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