# Accident 20160909017919A: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G109, Emigrant Gap, CA, September 9, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 9, 2016, 14:30 local time
- Place: Emigrant Gap, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.2819° N, 120.7119° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2819&lon=-120.7119&mi=10
- Aircraft: N909G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N909G-2018-06-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G109 (registry code 1660204, https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-g109) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BURKHART GROB FLUGZEUGBAU G109
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,330 total, 796 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA489](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA489) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160909017919A

## Narrative

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

WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT A MOTOR GLIDER ENCOUNTERED RISING TERRAIN AND ADVERSE ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS.  PILOT WAS IN CONTACT WITH ATC CENTER AND ADVISED OF PROBLEM.  ATC POINTED OUT AN AIRPORT 2 MILES AWAY, HOWEVER, MOTOR GLIDER WAS UNABLE TO OUT CLIMB THE TERRAIN.  PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING IN TALL PINE TREES AND EXPERIENCED MINOR INJURIES.  GLIDER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. A RECORDS CHECK FOUND NO VIOLATIONS OF PILOTS REGULATORY FLIGHT REVIEW OR AIRCRAFT REGULATORY INSPECTION.  PILOT REPORTED THAT AIRCRAFT WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY.

## 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 GAA16CA489](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA489), Sep 9, 2016: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G109 (N909G), Emigrant Gap, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inappropriate decision to continue the flight into higher elevation under high-density altitude conditions, which degraded the glider's climb performance and resulted in impact with trees…

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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