Plane Crash List

Burkhart Grob BG 103 N140BG

20 May 1994 · Ionia, Michigan, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 20 May 1994 at about 16:57 local time, a Burkhart Grob BG 103 registered N140BG was involved in an accident near Ionia, Michigan, 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.

The record

Date
at 16:57
Classification
Accident
Location
Ionia, Michigan, United States
Coordinates
42.9196, -85.2007
Aircraft
Burkhart Grob BG 103
Registration
N140BG
Category
Glider
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Unknown
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
CHI94LA165

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 0 2

Probable cause

a hard landing as a result of the early disconnect of the glider launch/tow equipment.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE SIGHTSEEING GLIDER FLIGHT WAS BEING TOW LAUNCHED BY A PIPER CUB. AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 100 FEET AGL, THE TOW PLANE HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT OF THE TOW PLANE DISCONNECTED THE GLIDER AND MADE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD. THE GLIDER PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN THE SAME FIELD. THE GLIDER TOUCHED DOWN IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR. WHEN IT TOUCHED DOWN THE SECOND TIME THE TAIL HIT BEFORE THE LANDING GEAR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

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All 170,864 records in United States