Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 ASTIR CS N152SS

Summary

On 2 June 2024 at about 20:20 local time, a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 ASTIR CS registered N152SS was involved in an accident near Benton, New Hampshire, 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

2 June 2024 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Benton, New Hampshire, United States

Coordinates

44.0437, -71.9078

Aircraft

Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 ASTIR CS

Registration

N152SS

Category

Glider

Year built

1977

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Post Mills → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24LA291

Nobody was injured.

An encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, resulting in collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the glider took off under aerotow for a flight in the local soaring area. During the return trip to the airport, the pilot reported that the “good lift” in the area had weakened. The pilot then reported that while looking for an area of lift, he performed a turn over a ridge, which resulted in a loss of altitude. During one the pilot’s turns to find lift, one of the wingtips impacted a tree, and the glider subsequently impacted the forest canopy. After impacting trees, the glider came to rest about 30 ft above ground level. The pilot was rescued from the tree canopy five hours after the accident and was uninjured. The tree impacts resulted in the glider sustaining substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.