# NTSB ERA09CA525: Burkhart Grob G-103A TWI, N308BG, Clermont, FL, September 17, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 17, 2009, 10:25 local (14:25 UTC) - Place: Clermont, FL - Coordinates: 28.405834, -81.840835 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4058&lon=-81.8408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74753 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA525 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74753/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74753 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA525 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's delayed remedial action resulting in an off-airfield landing and ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1660206), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1660206), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Not specified; cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1660206), [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. - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=1660206), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1660206), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=1660206), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certificated flight instructor and his student were on approach, in a glider. The student was attempting to make a no-airbrake landing. While on approach, the student was using a forward slip to correct the altitude. The instructor reported that his student’s aggressive control inputs made the aircraft too slow and too low to reach the airfield. The instructor took over the controls and decided to make an off-field landing. While landing, the glider’s right wing impacted tall grass. The flight instructor reported that the aircraft ground looped to the right causing substantial damage to the rudder and empennage. Neither the flight instructor nor the student reported any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. ## Factual narrative The certificated flight instructor and his student were on approach, in a glider. The student was attempting to make a no-airbrake landing. While on approach, the student was using a forward slip to correct the altitude. The instructor reported that his student’s aggressive control inputs made the aircraft too slow and too low to reach the airfield. The instructor took over the controls and decided to make an off field landing. While landing, the glider’s right wing impacted tall grass. The flight instructor reported that the aircraft ground looped to the right causing substantial damage to the rudder and empennage. Neither the flight instructor nor the student reported any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N308BG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N308BG-2010-02-02), registration cancelled 2010-02-02, S/N 34033-K-265 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BURKHART GROB G-103A TWI - 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: 34033-K-265 - Airframe hours: 4885 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Seminole Flying & Soaring Inc - Registered owner: Seminole Flying & Soaring Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2009 - Departed: 6FL0, Clermont, FL - Destination: 6FL0, Clermont, FL - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 6FL0, Seminole Lake Gliderport, runway 18, 3,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 29, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 7,310 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 4,804 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 175 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KGIF, 21 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 20090917049449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090917049449A), Sep 17, 2009: Burkhart Gr G-103A TWIN, Clermont, FL, Substantial damage. During an instructional glider flight in preparation for the student's private pilot practical test, the flight instructor directed the student to perform an… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74753. 864 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 673 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319560&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Statement (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319562&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - KGIF Metars (item 3, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319561&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=KGIF%20Metars-Master.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. --- 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.