Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 ASTIR CS N775SS

Summary

On 14 July 2007 at about 21:45 local time, a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 ASTIR CS registered N775SS was involved in an accident near Unionville, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 July 2007 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Unionville, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Ridge Soaring Gliderport (79N)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 ASTIR CS

Registration

N775SS

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unionville → Unionville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA07LA121

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had been flying in a glider for nearly an hour. Upon entering the traffic pattern for landing, he announced his intentions over the radio. Witnesses went outside and observed the glider on downwind; thereafter, it turned onto base. While on base, the nose of the glider pitched down suddenly, near vertical, and then disappeared into the forest. The glider collided with trees, the cockpit section was ripped open, and the glider remained suspended in the trees. The pilot remained in the wreckage suspended in the trees. The pilot complained about having trouble breathing and apologized for damaging the glider. The witness stated that, before his death, the pilot said "I don't know why I did that." Flight control continuity was established and no discrepancies with the glider were noted during examination of the wreckage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.