Burkhart Grob TWIN ASTIR N333BH

Summary

On 11 February 1995 at about 22:00 local time, a Burkhart Grob TWIN ASTIR registered N333BH was involved in an accident near Fort Huachuca, Arizona, 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.

Date

11 February 1995 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Huachuca, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

31.5693, -110.3804

Aircraft

Burkhart Grob TWIN ASTIR

Registration

N333BH

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95LA106

Nobody was injured.

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO REMAIN CLEAR OF TREE(S) DURING AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: LACK OF THERMAL LIFT, AND HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE OFF-AIRPORT LANDING AREA.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER THE TOW RELEASE, THE GLIDER PILOT HAD DIFFICULTY LOCATING THERMALS FOR LIFT. HE SAW A FIELD AND PROCEEDED TO MANEUVER FOR AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING. DURING THE APPROACH PHASE, HE SAW POWER LINES PERPENDICULAR TO THE INTENDED LANDING DIRECTION, SO HE MANEUVERED TO LAND PARALLEL TO THE POWER LINES. AS HE CONTINUED THE APPROACH, WHICH WAS OVER THE LEE SIDE OF SOME HILLS, THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED AN INCREASE IN SINK RATE AND A DECREASE IN AIRSPEED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GAIN ENERGY AND TO CLEAR OBSTACLES; HOWEVER, THE LEFT WINGTIP COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND THE GLIDER CRASH LANDED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.