# NTSB ATL88LA018: Burkhart Grob G-102, N792G, Whitwell, TN, October 18, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 18, 1987, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Whitwell, TN
- Coordinates: 35.199108, -85.510337 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1991&lon=-85.5103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 27, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7661
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7661/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA018

## Sequence of events

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

- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - in-flight planning/decision - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE GLIDER PLT MADE AN OFF-ARPT LDG AFTER REALIZING THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO RETURN TO HIS DEPARTURE POINT. DURING LDG ROLLOUT ON UNEVEN TERRAIN, ONE OF THE WINGTIPS CONTACTED THE TERRAIN AND THE GLIDER GROUND-LOOPED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N792G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N792G-1994-01-10), registration cancelled 1994-01-10, S/N 5629CB (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G-102
- Registry model: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-g102-club-astir-iiib) (registry code 1660106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 5629 CB
- Airframe hours: 300
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gary G. Bawtinhimer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 1987, 50 hours before
- Departed: WHITWELL, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 380 total, 20 in this make and model, 320 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 19871018062659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871018062659A), Oct 18, 1987: Grob G102ASTIR, Whitwell, TN, Substantial damage. Gliders wing collided with uneven terrain and ground looped on rollout, downdraft prevented return to airport.

## Other investigations on N792G (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 ATL93LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA067), Apr 1, 1993: Burkhart Grob G102 (N792G), Kingston, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's attempted return to the departure runway that resulted in a stall at an altutude that was too low to permit recovery.

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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