# NTSB ATL06CA006: 1200 G103, N381SL, Benton, TN, October 14, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 14, 2005, 16:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place: Benton, TN
- Coordinates: 36.273612, -84.558891
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2736&lon=-84.5589&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Memphis FSDO-25
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62686
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06CA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62686/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA006

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudgment of distance and failure to maintain a visual look out during a forced landing resulting in an in flight collision with a guy wire and the ground.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - no thermal lift
- Forced landing, emergency landing
- In flight collision with object, emergency landing
  - object - guy wire
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - ground
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was flying about 1200 feet above the ground when the glider lost thermal lift. He made a 270-degree turn towards an open area for an emergency landing. As the glider approached the emergency landing area, it was too high for a landing and was losing airspeed. The pilot then turn towards another field and said that he misjudged the distance to that landing area. As the pilot continued to maneuver for an emergency landing, the right wing tip collided with a guy wire on a power pole. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the glider.

## Factual narrative

"This report is based on information received by the NTSB. Additional details may be found in the NTSB's public docket for the case. For further information please contact the NTSB Office of Public Inquires."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N381SL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N381SL-2006-01-03), registration cancelled 2006-01-03, S/N 3603 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: 1200 G103
- Registry model: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-g103-twin-astir) (registry code 1660202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 3603
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Max Robert Gieseke
- Registered owner: St. Louis Soaring Association Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: 92A, Benton, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; injuries: serious; private; seat: front; flight hours: 412 total, 412 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: CHA, 38 nm away

## 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 20051014027669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051014027669A), Oct 14, 2005: Grob G103TWNASTIR, Benton, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he overshot the landing field and aborted the landing. He executed a go around and found himself disoriented and attempted to make an…

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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