# NTSB CHI01LA207: Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II, N140BG, Ionia, MI, July 12, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 2001, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Ionia, MI - Coordinates: 42.980033, -85.050346 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9800&lon=-85.0503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52727 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA207 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52727/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA207 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining clearance from the tall grass during his recovery from the bounced landing. A factor was the tall grass. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - recovery from bounced landing - performed, pilot in command - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command ## Analysis The glider sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain. The pilot reported no injuries. The pilot stated, "Upon touch down the aircraft bounced, I closed the spoilers to save the landing, this caused an increase in speed, burning up available landing area. In forcing the aircraft to the ground, I caught the right wing-tip in tall grass causing the aircraft to ground loop. No injury to pilot was involved." The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 2001, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II, N140BG, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage to its vertical and horizontal stabilizers and to its rear fuselage on impact with terrain during landing roll at Ionia County Airport (Y70), near Ionia, Michigan. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight departed from Y70 at 1550 and the glider was landing at the time of the accident. The pilot stated: After completing a 2 hour soaring flight, I approached landing area on a N-W heading. Upon touch down the aircraft bounced, I closed the spoilers to save the landing, this caused an increase in speed, burning up available landing area. In forcing the aircraft to the ground, I caught the right wing-tip in tall grass causing the aircraft to ground loop. No injury to pilot was involved. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N140BG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N140BG), registered now, S/N 33902-K-140 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II - Registry model: [Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-g-103-twin-ii) (registry code 1660203) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 33902-K-140 - Airframe hours: 3345.1 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Benz Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2001, 72 hours before - Departed: Y70, Ionia, MI - Airport: Y70, Ionia County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review September 26, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 101 total, 43 in this make and model, 87 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: LAN, 20 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 20010712017029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010712017029A), Jul 12, 2001: Ionia, MI, No damage. (-23) Wing dropped to ground during landing causing glider to ground loop. Aft fuselage, vertical and horizontal stabilizer received substantial damage. (.19)… ## Other investigations on N140BG (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 CHI94LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA165), May 20, 1994: Burkhart Grob BG 103 (N140BG), Ionia, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: a hard landing as a result of the early disconnect of the glider launch/tow equipment. - [NTSB CHI92LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92LA143), May 10, 1992: Burkhart Grob G-103 (N140BG), Ionia, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT AND DECISION TO CLOSE THE GLIDER'S CANOPY AT LOW ALTITUDE. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.