Burkhart Grob 103A N858BG

Summary

On 4 December 1994 at about 18:52 local time, a Burkhart Grob 103A registered N858BG, operated by Eastern Mountain Soaring, was involved in an accident near Blairstown, New Jersey, United States. 2 people were 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.

Date

4 December 1994 at 18:52

Classification

Accident

Location

Blairstown, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Blairstown (1N7)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Burkhart Grob 103A

Registration

N858BG

Category

Glider

Operator

Eastern Mountain Soaring

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC95LA040

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain the proper descent rate.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE GLIDER PILOT ENTERED THE DOWNWIND, WITH HIS ALTITUDE ABOUT 100 FT BELOW HIS DESIRED ALTITUDE. ON FINAL, HE ENCOUNTERED SOME LIFT AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE THE DESCENT. THE LIFT ALSO CAUSED THE GLIDER TO BECOME MISALIGNED WITH THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS FLYING FROM THE REAR SEAT WITH A PILOT RATED PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. HE HAD DIFFICULTY IN SEEING THE RUNWAY DUE TO THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. DURING THE REALIGNMENT, THE GLIDER STARTED TO SINK AND BY THE TIME THE PILOT REALIZED THIS, THE GLIDER WAS TOO LOW TO REACH THE RUNWAY. THE GLIDER BOUNCED OFF A SMALL RISE PRIOR TO THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT WING THEN STRUCK A SMALL TREE AND THE GLIDER TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN, WITH THE NOSE APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREE LEFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.