Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO N790G

Summary

On 12 September 2006 at about 20:20 local time, a Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO registered N790G was involved in an accident near Minden, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, 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.

Date

12 September 2006 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Minden, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Douglas County (MEV)

Coordinates

39.0003, -119.7511

Aircraft

Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO

Registration

N790G

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minden → Minden

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX06LA292

1 person died.

The inadequate pre-takeoff checks by the flightcrew that failed to detect that the spoilers were deployed during the takeoff and initial climb. Also causal was the inadequate supervision of the flight by the flight instructor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The local area instructional glider flight departed from the runway with the aid of a tow airplane. At 50 feet agl, the tow pilot observed the glider's spoilers were in a deployed configuration. He signaled (wag the rudder) the pilots to check the spoilers. The glider then moved to the left, causing a strain on the tow rope. The tow pilot said that the glider pilot then terminated the tow about 120 feet agl as the glider was turning back to the runway. Prior to crossing the airport perimeter fence, one of the glider's wings struck a telephone pole. The glider cartwheeled, and came to rest upright on airport property.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.