# NTSB ANC24LA071: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir, N8485W, Huntsville, UT, July 29, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 29, 2024, 15:55 local (21:55 UTC)
- Place: Huntsville, UT · Open field
- Coordinates: 41.290748, -111.60924 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2907&lon=-111.6092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194808
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194808/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194808
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA071

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to navigate in hazy conditions, which resulted in a forced landing in a field and a collision with a pole.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Ceiling/visibility/precip: haze/smoke](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020/cases.md?model=1660202), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1660202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1660202), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1660202), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1660202), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1660202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the unpowered glider reported that, he experienced “spatial disorientation” due to hazy conditions, and he inadvertently flew the glider in the wrong direction, which was farther away from his intended landing site. The pilot selected an open field as a forced landing site. During the forced landing, the right wing impacted a pole, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8485W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8485W), registered now, S/N 3290, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BURKHART GROB FLUGZEUGBAU G103 TWIN ASTIR
- Registry model: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-g103-twin-astir) (registry code 1660202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 3290
- Year built: 1980
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Utah Soaring Association
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 42U, Morgan, UT
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: NA
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 16; injuries: none; private; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 55 total, 26 in this make and model, 13 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KOGD, 20 nm away
- METAR: KOGD 292153Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 34/00 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP084 T03390000

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20240729013829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240729013829A), Jul 29, 2024: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR, Huntsville, UT, Substantial damage. Pilot was conducting second solo flight after taking glider pilot check ride. While maneuvering he became disoriented. The pilot made a landing in a field…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194808. 2.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17480498&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA071%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17480021&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20written%20statement-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 227 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17480772&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA071%20Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf

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.

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