Burkhart Grob G103 N2135R
25 July 1992 · Knoxville, Tennessee, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 25 July 1992 at about 19:12 local time, a Burkhart Grob G103 registered N2135R, operated by Robert L. Davis, was involved in an accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were 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.
The record
- Date
- at 19:12
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- Nearest airport
- Downtown Island Airport (DKX)
- Coordinates
- 35.9810, -83.8000
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G103
- Registration
- N2135R
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Robert L. Davis
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA92LA153
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY INSTRUCT THE PASSENGER ON AIRCRAFT CONTROLS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, RESULTING IN THE PASSENGER INADVERTENTLY RELEASING THE TOW CABLE AS THE GLIDER WAS BEING TOWED THROUGH 150 FEET.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO INSTRUCT REAR SEAT PASSENGER, WHO DID NOT SPEAK ENGLISH, HOW TO OPEN AIR VENT. THE PASSENGER INADVERTENTLY PULLED THE TOW CABLE RELEASE AND THE GLIDER DISCONNECTED FROM THE TOW AIRCRAFT AT 150 FEET. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY BEFORE LANDING ON A GRASSY SLOPE, AND GROUND LOOPING, AT WHICH TIME THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Burkhart Grob G103 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 1992 | Burkhart Grob G103 | Boerne, Texas, United States | Osprey Soaring School, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 1992 | Burkhart Grob G103 | Olancha, California, United States | Douglass Soaring Club | No injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 1992 | Burkhart Grob G103 FLUGZEUGBAU | Truckee, California, United States | Soar Truckee Flying Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Oct 1993 | Burkhart Grob G103 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Sep 1991 | Burkhart Grob G103 | Fremont, California, United States | Sky Soaring | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jun 1993 | Burkhart Grob G103 | Ionia, Michigan, United States | B & N Leasing Co. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jan 1992 | Cessna 177B | Memphis, Tennessee, United States | Cleary, Peter J. | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Jan 1992 | Beechcraft J-35 | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | Webster, Gordon | No injuries | - |
| 2 Feb 1992 | Cessna 152 | Shelbyville, Tennessee, United States | C & G Aircraft Sales, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Mar 1992 | Beechcraft A36 | Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee, United States | Snyder, Michael C. | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Mar 1992 | Cessna U206G | Lafayette, Tennessee, United States | Buckner Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 2 May 1992 | Schreder RS-15 | Benton, Tennessee, United States | Smalley, James W. | Fatal | 1 |