# Accident 19981024044999A: Grob G103A, Saratoga Spring, NY, October 24, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 24, 1998, 16:00 local time
- Place: Saratoga Spring, NY
- Airport: Saratoga County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.0599° N, 73.7693° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0599&lon=-73.7693&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4446T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4446T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II (registry code 1660203, https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-g-103-twin-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GROB G103A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 128 total, 116 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99LA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA017) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981024044999A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) 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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC99LA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA017), Oct 24, 1998: Burkhart Grob G103-TWINA (N4446T), Saratoga Spring, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider while landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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