Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR N4115M

Summary

On 15 November 2006 at about 21:37 local time, a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR registered N4115M was involved in an accident near Tucson, Arizona, 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.

Date

15 November 2006 at 21:37

Classification

Accident

Location

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

El Tiro Gliderport (AZ67)

Coordinates

32.4228, -111.3869

Aircraft

Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR

Registration

N4115M

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tucson → Tucson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX07CA036

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper use of the spoilers during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, and his inadequate bounced landing recovery technique.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider pilot reported he was attempting to land the glider further down the runway than usual. He stated he added 1/2 spoilers and flared about 10 feet above the runway. He retracted the spoilers, and added them again when he was further down, and about 5 feet above the runway. At the second spoiler application, the glider immediately fell to the runway, hitting hard and bouncing. The glider bounced another two or three times, coming to rest after the tail section separated. The pilot stated that there were no pre accident mechanical or flight control problems with the glider.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.