# NTSB ERA24LA291: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Astir CS, N152SS, Benton, NH, June 2, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 2, 2024, 16:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Benton, NH · In a tree in a National Forrest
- Coordinates: 44.0437, -71.90775
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0437&lon=-71.9077&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194610
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA291
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194610/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194610
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA291

## Probable cause

An encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, resulting in collision with trees.

## Findings

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

- [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 ASTIR CS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=1660104), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 ASTIR CS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=1660104), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 ASTIR CS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1660104), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the glider took off under aerotow for a flight in the local soaring area. During the return trip to the airport, the pilot reported that the “good lift” in the area had weakened. The pilot then reported that while looking for an area of lift, he performed a turn over a ridge, which resulted in a loss of altitude. During one the pilot’s turns to find lift, one of the wingtips impacted a tree, and the glider subsequently impacted the forest canopy. After impacting trees, the glider came to rest about 30 ft above ground level. The pilot was rescued from the tree canopy five hours after the accident and was uninjured. The tree impacts resulted in the glider sustaining substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N152SS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N152SS), registered now, S/N 1502, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BURKHART GROB FLUGZEUGBAU G102 ASTIR CS
- Registry model: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 ASTIR CS](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-g102-astir-cs) (registry code 1660104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 1502
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 1524.3
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 2023, 22 hours before
- Departed: 2B9, Post Mills, VT
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 84; injuries: none; private; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 152 total, 22 in this make and model, 107.2 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observed at: 1P1, 17 nm away
- METAR: METAR K1P1 022015Z AUTO 31006KT 10SM CLR 29/01 A2991 RMK AO2 T02930012=

## 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 20240602008449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240602008449A), Jun 2, 2024: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 ASTIR CS, Benton, NH, Substantial damage. On 06/02/2024 2143Z. Haverhill, NH: glider, crashed into trees, 6 miles se of 5B9 (dean memorial airport). POB: 1, injuries: none, damage: substancial damage…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194610. 2.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 17 pages, 314 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17609645&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20NTSB%206120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - pilot 6120.1 information (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17609604&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20MOR%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17609655&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05%20Investigative%20Photos-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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