Burkhart Grob G103 N173SS

Summary

On 3 July 1992 at about 01:30 local time, a Burkhart Grob G103 registered N173SS, operated by Douglass Soaring Club, was involved in an accident near Olancha, California, 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

3 July 1992 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Olancha, California, United States

Nearest airport

Abandoned Airstrip (NONE)

Coordinates

36.2593, -117.9500

Aircraft

Burkhart Grob G103

Registration

N173SS

Category

Glider

Operator

Douglass Soaring Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Bishop

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92LA275

Nobody was injured.

1) THE TOW PILOT'S INTENTIONAL PREMATURE RELEASE OF THE GLIDER, WHICH HAD BECOME AIRBORNE, WHEN THE TOW PLANE FAILED TO ACHIEVE SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING ITS TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL, AND, 2) THE GLIDER HAVING INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF RELEASE TO NEGOTIATE A SUCCESSFUL RETURN TO RUNWAY MANEUVER. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT NATURE OF THE DIRT RUNWAY.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE EN ROUTE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT HE BEGAN LOOSING LIFT AND ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT AN ABANDONED AIRSTRIP. AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT TELEPHONED COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES AND ARRANGED TO HAVE A TOW PLANE FLY DOWN TO GET HIM AIRBORNE AGAIN. THE TOW PLANE ARRIVED AND BOTH PILOTS SURVEYED THE 2,400 FOOT LONG DIRT AIRSTRIP, DECIDING THAT IT WAS ADEQUATE FOR THE TOW OPERATION. DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF, THE TOW PLANE PILOT FELT THAT THE ACCELERATION DOWN THE RUNWAY WAS INSUFFICIENT TO TAKEOFF AND HE RELEASED THE GLIDER. UNKNOWN TO THE TOW PLANE PILOT, THE GLIDER WAS ALREADY AIRBORNE OFF THE RUNWAY WHEN HE RELEASED THE TOW CABLE. THE GLIDER HAD INSUFFICIENT REMAINING RUNWAY TO LAND AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO ATTEMPT A RETURN TO RUNWAY MANEUVER FROM LOW ALTITUDE. ONE WING TIP COLLIDED WITH A SMALL TREE DURING THE TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.