Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB N102BK

Summary

On 5 August 2017 at about 17:50 local time, a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB registered N102BK was involved in an accident near Marion, Ohio, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 August 2017 at 17:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Marion, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Marion Municipal (MNN)

Coordinates

40.6261, -83.1094

Aircraft

Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB

Registration

N102BK

Category

Glider

Year built

1985

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marion → Marion

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN17LA305

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to follow the before takeoff checklist, which resulted in an improper takeoff configuration and subsequent uncontrolled descent into terrain during a departure climb.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the glider stated that he made a mistake during his before takeoff checks and forgot to latch the canopy. During takeoff and climb, he heard air noise in the cabin and attempted to check the canopy handle while still under tow. He stated that, after climbing a "few hundred feet," the canopy came open. While he was trying to close the canopy, he lost sight of the tow airplane, so he released the tow line and made a turn to the right. A witness reported that the glider's left and right wing spoilers were extended during the flight and were visible from the ground. The glider pilot released from the tow airplane around 150 to 200 ft above ground level (agl) and tried to make a 180° turn back to the runway with the spoilers still extended. The glider's wing clipped a tree and crashed in a bean field. The examination of the glider at the accident site revealed that the spoilers were found in the open, or deployed, position. With the spoilers deployed, the glider and tow airplane would be unable to climb normally. The canopy attachment pins and the surrounding composite material were torn from the fuselage at impact. The canopy attachment handle and bayonet pins showed proper operation. The damage to the canopy was consistent with it being in the latched position at impact. The pilot stated that the glider had no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.