Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II N5448G

Summary

On 13 July 2012 at about 19:30 local time, a Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II registered N5448G, operated by Philadelphia Glider Council Inc, was involved in an accident near Hilltown, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 July 2012 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hilltown, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Philadelphia Gliderport (0PA0)

Coordinates

40.3283, -75.2417

Aircraft

Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II

Registration

N5448G

Category

Glider

Operator

Philadelphia Glider Council Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hilltown → Hilltown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12LA455

2 people were seriously injured.

The improper decision of the flight instructor receiving instruction to attempt a course reversal rather than land straight ahead following a simulated low-level rope break, and the inadequate remedial action of the flight instructor-in-command for allowing him to do so.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor-in-command was in the rear seat, and the flight instructor receiving instruction was in the front seat for flight instructor winch-launch glider training. The two pilots had flown multiple launches earlier that day, with each flight preceded by a briefing. After practicing recoveries from simulated rope breaks at 400 feet and 10 feet above ground level (agl), the intent for the accident flight was to simulate a rope break at 200 feet agl, which the flight instructor-in-command expected would result in a straight-ahead landing. The ground roll, takeoff, and transition to climb were “normal,” and the flight instructor in command pulled the release lever about 150 feet agl. The flight instructor receiving instruction nosed the glider over, and established a wings-level airspeed of about 54 knots. However, instead of landing straight ahead, the flight instructor receiving instruction turned the glider to the right, then to the left, and attempted to land opposite the direction of takeoff. There was insufficient altitude to complete the maneuver, and the glider impacted trees. The flight instructor-in-command could not remember the latter part of the flight due to head trauma, but the flight instructor receiving instruction stated that the flight instructor in command did not take control of the glider at any time before impact. Neither pilot reported any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded the glider’s normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.