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20250824016769A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB · Highland, IL · August 24, 2025

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
August 24, 2025 · 12:50 local
Place
Highland, IL
Airport
Highland-Winet
Phase of flight
Takeoff: Departure Roll
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N424BG
NTSB investigation
NTSBCEN25LA340
Reported as
Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Club Astir Iiib
Reported engine
NONE NONE
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
57 total10 in this make and model2 in the last 90 days
N424BGRegistered now · Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIBS/N 5548CBAirframe modelBurkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIBEngine modelNONENone

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

At H07 shortly before 12:50, PIC and another club member placed the glider on the line at the south end of runway 36 and removed the tail dolly. PIC got in and buckled seat belts. The wing runner attached the towline and signaled for towline slack to be taken up. PIC went through the checklist (abbcccdde), then made radio contact with the towplane. PIC confirmed with the towplane pilot that dive brakes and canopy were closed, locked and stated desired release altitude. A thumbs-up was given to the wing runner. He lifted the left wing. PIC wagged the rudder and the towplane acknowledged in the same manner.

The tow began. PIC indicated he was deliberately mindful to keep the wings level given the serious crosswind. Soon PIC was veering left, west, out of a position behind the towplane, neither left the ground. The left wing dropped to the ground and very soon a ground loop was in full effect. PIC released but did not brake. The right wing of the glider struck the railing along the bed of a golf cart as the glider came to a stop. (Intended destination was a return to H07.)

As the FAA filed it

AT H07 SHORTLY BEFORE 12:50, PIC AND ANOTHER CLUB MEMBER PLACED THE GLIDER ON THE LINE AT THE SOUTH END OF RUNWAY 36 AND REMOVED THE TAIL DOLLY. PIC GOT IN AND BUCKLED SEAT BELTS. THE WING RUNNER ATTACHED THE TOWLINE AND SIGNALED FOR TOWLINE SLACK TO BE TAKEN UP. PIC WENT THROUGH THE CHECKLIST (ABBCCCDDE), THEN MADE RADIO CONTACT WITH THE TOWPLANE. PIC CONFIRMED WITH THE TOWPLANE PILOT THAT DIVE BRAKES AND CANOPY WERE CLOSED, LOCKED AND STATED DESIRED RELEASE ALTITUDE. A THUMBS-UP WAS GIVEN TO THE WING RUNNER. HE LIFTED THE LEFT WING. PIC WAGGED THE RUDDER AND THE TOWPLANE ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE SAME MANNER.

THE TOW BEGAN. PIC INDICATED HE WAS DELIBERATELY MINDFUL TO KEEP THE WINGS LEVEL GIVEN THE SERIOUS CROSSWIND. SOON PIC WAS VEERING LEFT, WEST, OUT OF A POSITION BEHIND THE TOWPLANE, NEITHER LEFT THE GROUND. THE LEFT WING DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND VERY SOON A GROUND LOOP WAS IN FULL EFFECT. PIC RELEASED BUT DID NOT BRAKE. THE RIGHT WING OF THE GLIDER STRUCK THE RAILING ALONG THE BED OF A GOLF CART AS THE GLIDER CAME TO A STOP. (INTENDED DESTINATION WAS A RETURN TO H07.)

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN25LA340Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHighland, ILThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff which resulted in a collision with a parked vehicle.Aug 24, 2025 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N424BG · 3

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20220806014189ALanding: Approach · Highland, IL[privacy data omitted] Was in the traffic pattern for runway 18 at Highland-Winet Airport. The airman stated that he turned final approach at 55 mph and his approach looked normal. His aimpoint was midfield. The final approach path was over a field of mature…Aug 6, 2022 · Substantial damageAccident 20030910026609AForced/Precautionary Landing · Highland, IL(-23) Pilot departed on a pleasure flight at approximately 1600 hours. Experienced weak lift conditions and decided to return to the field. Encountered sink returning to the field. Elected to land off field rather than attempt to return to airport. Landed on…Sep 10, 2003 · Reported as Grob G102IIIB · Substantial damageIncident 19950624021289IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Highland, ILOn landing approach spoiler handle came off. Overshot runway. Cold weld on handle failed.Jun 24, 1995 · Reported as Grob G102ASTIR · Minor damage