What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On Thursday July 24, 2025, the pilot of a Grob Twin Astir with one passenger in the front seat departed from 1B5 (Franconia NH) at around 1530, PIC launched from runway 18 as there was a south wind from around 200. PIC indiacated they were towed to the north side of lafayette mt and there was rotor (refers to a specific type of air movement) and turbulence on the tow. PIC released at around 5100' MSL and right away he noticed that he was in some bad sink. PIC quickly vectored west toward 1B5, and the reading on the variometer indicated they were falling at least 10 KTS, the max reading on the instrument. After a short period, PIC noticed that the spoilers had opened during the turbulence and PIC closed them, but they were still sinking. PIC was able to make it to lovett's field, which is about 1.5 sm northeast of 1B5 when the PIC realized that he didn't have enough altitude to clear the trees to get back to 1B5. PIC made the decision to land at lovett's field and upon landing, the plane ground looped from the tall grass and the tail boom broke in half. There were no injuries.
As the FAA filed it
ON THURSDAY JULY 24, 2025, THE PILOT OF A GROB TWIN ASTIR WITH ONE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT DEPARTED FROM 1B5 (FRANCONIA NH) AT AROUND 1530, PIC LAUNCHED FROM RUNWAY 18 AS THERE WAS A SOUTH WIND FROM AROUND 200. PIC INDIACATED THEY WERE TOWED TO THE NORTH SIDE OF LAFAYETTE MT AND THERE WAS ROTOR (REFERS TO A SPECIFIC TYPE OF AIR MOVEMENT) AND TURBULENCE ON THE TOW. PIC RELEASED AT AROUND 5100' MSL AND RIGHT AWAY HE NOTICED THAT HE WAS IN SOME BAD SINK. PIC QUICKLY VECTORED WEST TOWARD 1B5, AND THE READING ON THE VARIOMETER INDICATED THEY WERE FALLING AT LEAST 10 KTS, THE MAX READING ON THE INSTRUMENT. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD, PIC NOTICED THAT THE SPOILERS HAD OPENED DURING THE TURBULENCE AND PIC CLOSED THEM, BUT THEY WERE STILL SINKING. PIC WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO LOVETT'S FIELD, WHICH IS ABOUT 1.5 SM NORTHEAST OF 1B5 WHEN THE PIC REALIZED THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TREES TO GET BACK TO 1B5. PIC MADE THE DECISION TO LAND AT LOVETT'S FIELD AND UPON LANDING, THE PLANE GROUND LOOPED FROM THE TALL GRASS AND THE TAIL BOOM BROKE IN HALF. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.