# NTSB CEN25LA340: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Club Astir Iiib, N424BG, Highland, IL, August 24, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 24, 2025, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place: Highland, IL
- Coordinates: 38.777074, -89.642111
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7771&lon=-89.6421&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA - STL FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200850
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA340
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200850/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200850
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA340

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff which resulted in a collision with a parked vehicle.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1660106), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1660106), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1660106), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the glider was preparing to take off and was connected to a tow airplane. As the tow began, the glider began to drift to the left due to a crosswind, and the glider moved out of position behind the towplane. As the tow progressed the glider’s left wing dropped to the ground, and the glider began to ground loop. The pilot released from the towplane and the right wing of the glider struck a parked golf cart. The glider received substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the glider that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N424BG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N424BG), registered now, S/N 5548CB (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BURKHART GROB FLUGZEUGBAU G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB
- Registry model: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-g102-club-astir-iiib) (registry code 1660106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 5548CB
- Year built: 1981
- Airframe hours: 4175
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: St Louis Soaring Association Inc
- Registered owner: St Louis Soaring Association Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 2025
- Airport: H07, Highland-Winet, runway 18/36, 2,200 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; last flight review July 14, 2024; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 58 total, 10 in this make and model, 58 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KBLV, 17 nm away
- METAR: METAR KBLV 241755Z AUTO 31013KT 10SM FEW045 26/14 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP172 T02590140 10259 20154 58009=

## 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 20250824016769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250824016769A), Aug 24, 2025: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB, Highland, IL, Substantial damage. 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…

## Other investigations on N424BG (2)

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 CEN22LA370](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA370), Aug 6, 2022: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Club Astir Iiib (N424BG), Highland, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB CHI03LA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA317), Sep 10, 2003: Burkhart Grob G102 Club Astir Iiib (N424BG), Highland, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot encountering unsuitable terrain during an off-airport landing. A factor to the accident was the high vegetation.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 2, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200850. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19243214&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1web_Reader_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 799 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19267247&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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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