Burkhart Grob G-103 N3950A
11 December 1994 · Tehachapi, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 11 December 1994 at about 22:00 local time, a Burkhart Grob G-103 registered N3950A, operated by Skylark North, was involved in an accident near Tehachapi, California, United States. 2 people were 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.
The record
- Date
- at 22:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Tehachapi, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.1209, -118.5102
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G-103
- Registration
- N3950A
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Skylark North
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX95LA050
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
the pilot's poor in-flight planning/decision and inadequate airspeed. The downdraft and trees were factors in this accident.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT SAID IN A POSTACCIDENT TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THAT HE WAS RIDGE SOARING ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE TREES ALONG A SOUTHEAST/NORTHWESTERLY COURSE. THE PILOT SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED ONE PASS OVER THE RIDGE LINE. ON THE SECOND PASS, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT. THE GLIDER'S AIRSPEED WAS INSUFFICIENT TO CLIMB OUT OF THE IMPENDING TREE LINE AND THE GLIDER'S RIGHT WING STRUCK A TREE. THE PILOT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE GLIDER AND LANDED AT THE AIRPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Burkhart Grob G-103 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 1994 | Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II | Wellington, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Sep 1993 | Burkhart Grob G-103 TWIN ASTIR | New Douglas, Illinois, United States | Silvercreek Aviation, Ltd. | No injuries | - |
| 10 May 1992 | Burkhart Grob G-103 | Ionia, Michigan, United States | Benz Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jun 1997 | Burkhart Grob G-103-TWIN II | Jacumba, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Mar 1997 | Burkhart Grob G-103-TWIN II | Lancaster, South Carolina, United States | Mark C. Baur | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 Aug 1990 | Burkhart Grob G-103 | Liano, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-28R-201 | Fort Bragg, California, United States | Sundance Flying Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 May 1994 | Schweizer G-164B | Yuba City, California, United States | Sutter Butte Dusters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 3 Sep 1994 | Cessna T210L | Kettleman City, California, United States | Willie Alves Rodrigues | No injuries | - |
| 13 May 1994 | Maule M-5-235C | Columbia, California, United States | White, James L. | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 1994 | Cessna 150L | Rio Linda, California, United States | Hinckley, Thomas, F. | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Chico, California, United States | Sierra Aviation | No injuries | - |