# NTSB ATL85LA154: Burkhart Grob G103, N916G, Williamson, GA, May 7, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1985, 14:23 local (18:23 UTC)
- Place: Williamson, GA
- Coordinates: 33.180995, -84.360443 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1810&lon=-84.3604&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6789
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85LA154
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6789/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA154

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - performed, pilot in command
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - panic, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - airport facility (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT STATED HIS FINAL APCH TO THE RWY WAS MADE OFF-CENTER TO ACCOUNT FOR A X-WIND. THE GLIDER TOUCHED DOWN TO THE LEFT OF THE PAVED STRIP & BEGAN CONVERGING ON A FENCE. THE PLT RETRACTED THE SPEED BRAKES & LIFTED OFF AS THE GLIDER APPROACHED THE FENCE. HE STATED THAT HE THEN PANICKED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE GLIDER TOUCHED DOWN HARD & HIT TIRES THAT WERE USED TO MARK THE EDGE OF THE RWY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N916G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N916G-2019-10-05), registration cancelled 2019-10-05, S/N 3753 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G103
- 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: 3753
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thermal Leasing, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Airport: 3GA7, Peach State Gliderport, runway 31, 3,300 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; student; seat: front; flight hours: 31 total, 31 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATL, 25 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 19850507015669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850507015669A), May 7, 1985: Grob G103TWNASTIR, Willaimson, GA, Substantial damage. Touched down heading toward a fence. Lifted off. Touched down hard on runway edge markers.

## Other investigations on N916G (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 DEN05LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA108), Jul 9, 2005: Grob G103 (N916G), Moriarty, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: the glider pilot's intentional tow release at too low an altitude when he erroneously perceived the tow plane was about to crash. A contributing factor was the unsuitable terrain on which to make a…

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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