# NTSB DEN08CA056: Burkhart Grob G-103A Twin II Acro, N223WP, Alamogordo, NM, February 9, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 9, 2008, 10:35 local (17:35 UTC) - Place: Alamogordo, NM - Coordinates: 32.837223, -105.987777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8372&lon=-105.9878&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 67544 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08CA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67544/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08CA056 ## Probable cause The unsuitable terrain for landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's encounter with turbulence and the loss of visual contact with the tow plane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=1660206), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=1660206), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=1660206), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1660206), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1660206), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The glider encountered turbulence at approximately 200 feet above ground level. The glider gained altitude such that the pilot lost sight of the tow plane. The pilot decided to release the glider and attempt a right turn back to the airport to land. He stated, "the altitude was too low to complete the turn, so I leveled the wings and landed the glider off-field." Upon landing, the left wing contacted the terrain and the glider ground looped, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and horizontal stabilizer. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot's statement, the glider was being towed aloft when it encountered turbulence at approximately 200 feet above ground level. The glider gained altitude such that the pilot lost sight of the tow plane. The pilot decided to release the glider and attempt a right turn back to the airport to land. The pilot stated, "The altitude was too low to complete the turn, so I leveled the wings and landed the glider off-field." Upon landing, the left wing contacted terrain and the glider ground looped. Examination of the glider revealed the rear fuselage was broken in front of the vertical stabilizer, the nose gear sheared off, and the horizontal stabilizer was bent at the connection to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot and single passenger were not injured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N223WP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N223WP), registered now, S/N 3846-K-92 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO - Registry model: [Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-g-103a-twin-ii-acro) (registry code 1660206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 3735 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Christian Nickel - Registered owner: White Sands Soaring Association - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KALM, Alamogordo, NM - Airport: ALM, Alamogordo-White Sands Regiona ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; flight hours: 631 total, 631 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20080209012659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080209012659A), Feb 9, 2008: Grob G103ATWINII, Alamogordo, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 9, 2008, at approximately 1030 MST, a Grob 103 twin astir ii, N223WP, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it landed… 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.