Burkhart Grob G102 ASTIR CS N57GE
27 February 1995 · Jean, Nevada, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 27 February 1995 at about 00:12 local time, a Burkhart Grob G102 ASTIR CS registered N57GE, operated by Ralph D. Biesemeyer, was involved in an accident near Jean, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:12
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Jean, Nevada, United States
- Nearest airport
- Jean (0L7)
- Coordinates
- 35.7497, -115.5294
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G102 ASTIR CS
- Registration
- N57GE
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Ralph D. Biesemeyer
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX95LA123
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
the pilot's decision to fly in known adverse weather conditions which resulted in a wind shear encounter at low altitude during the takeoff initial climb.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTNING WERE OBSERVED WEST OF THE AIRPORT. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER ACHIEVED ABOUT 300 FEET AGL DURING THE TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 20 BY AUTO TOW. INSTEAD OF COMPLETING A NORMAL PITCH UP TO INCREASE ALTITUDE, THE PILOT RELEASED THE TOW LINE, FLEW TO THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY IN A DESCENT, AND WAS PERFORMING A 270-DEGREE LEFT TURN TO LAND ON A SHORT CROSSWIND RUNWAY WHEN THE LEFT WING TIP DRUG THE GROUND. THE GLIDER THEN CARTWHEELED. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS AWARE OF THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TO THE WEST OF THE RUNWAY, BUT ELECTED TO DO A SHORT FLIGHT. HE SAID THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE GLIDER ACHIEVED 300 FEET AGL WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED A SUDDEN DOWNWIND CONDITION. DURING THE ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE DURING THE TURN AND THE LEFT WING TIP INADVERTENTLY CONTACTED THE GROUND.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Burkhart Grob G102 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar 1996 | Burkhart Grob G102 | Minden, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 1996 | Burkhart Grob G102 | Mesquite, Nevada, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 9 Sep 1996 | Burkhart Grob G102 | Warner Springs, California, United States | Sky Sailing | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Apr 1993 | Burkhart Grob G102 | Kingston, Georgia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 1998 | Burkhart Grob G102 | Douglas, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 2001 | Burkhart Grob G102 STD ASTIR III | Faribault, Minnesota, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun 1995 | Cessna 310 | Henderson, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jun 1995 | Cessna 172 | Yerington, Nevada, United States | Jesse N. Nish | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1995 | Stinson L-5E | Elko, Nevada, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1995 | Cessna 172P | Reno, Nevada, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 1995 | Beechcraft P35 | Elko, Nevada, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 4 Aug 1995 | Fox PEREGRINE PJ-2 | Minden, Nevada, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |