Burkhart Grob G103-TWINA N4446T

Summary

On 24 October 1998 at about 20:00 local time, a Burkhart Grob G103-TWINA registered N4446T was involved in an accident near Saratoga Spring, New York, 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

24 October 1998 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Saratoga Spring, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Saratoga County (5B2)

Coordinates

43.0599, -73.7693

Aircraft

Burkhart Grob G103-TWINA

Registration

N4446T

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

NYC99LA017

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider while landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was to conduct a local area glider flight. The glider departed the airport, and released from the tow-plane at 3,000 feet MSL. The pilot looked for thermals, but found none. He remained within 2 miles of the airport then decided to abort the flight due to insufficient lift. The pilot made a left downwind entry at 800 feet above the ground, turned base, then final. While on final, the pilot had his hands full just to keep the glider lined-up with the runway because of turbulence. The glider touched down at the intended touchdown point, but bounced back into the air. After the first bounce, the pilot was focusing on maintaining runway alignment that the glider began to oscillate. After contacting the runway a total of four times, the pilot was able to regain control of the glider and complete the landing. An after landing inspection revealed substantial damage to the tail wheel, and tail section of the glider.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.