# Accident 20250824016769A: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB, Highland, IL, August 24, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 24, 2025, 12:50 local time
- Place: Highland, IL
- Airport: Highland-Winet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.7771° N, 89.6421° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7771&lon=-89.6421&mi=10
- Aircraft: N424BG, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N424BG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB (registry code 1660106, https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-g102-club-astir-iiib) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BURKHART GROB FLUGZEUGBAU G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 57 total, 10 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA340) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250824016769A

## Narrative

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

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.)

## 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 CEN25LA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA340), Aug 24, 2025: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Club Astir Iiib (N424BG), Highland, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff which resulted in a collision with a parked vehicle.

## Other reports on N424BG (3)

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

- [Accident 20220806014189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220806014189A), Aug 6, 2022: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB (N424BG), Highland, IL, Substantial damage. [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…
- [Accident 20030910026609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030910026609A), Sep 10, 2003: Grob G102IIIB (N424BG), Highland, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot departed on a pleasure flight at approximately 1600 hours. Experienced weak lift conditions and decided to return to the field. Encountered sink…
- [Incident 19950624021289I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950624021289I), Jun 24, 1995: Grob G102ASTIR (N424BG), Highland, IL, Minor damage. On landing approach spoiler handle came off. Overshot runway. Cold weld on handle failed.

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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