# NTSB ERA26LA085: Burkhart Grob Luft UND Raumfah G103 Twin Astir Trai, N103T, Brownsboro, AL, November 26, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 26, 2025, 14:55 local (20:55 UTC)
- Place: Brownsboro, AL
- Coordinates: 34.748293, -86.462429 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7483&lon=-86.4624&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Prior to flight: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 14, 2026
- 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): 202242
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202242/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202242
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA085

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to properly lock the rear canopy prior to flight, which led to the canopy opening during aerotow at low altitude, and a subsequent off-airport landing in a corn field.

## Findings

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

- [Doors: passenger/crew doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Luft UND Raumfah G103 TWIN ASTIR TRAI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=1660501), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Luft UND Raumfah G103 TWIN ASTIR TRAI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1660501), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Prior to flight: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Luft UND Raumfah G103 TWIN ASTIR TRAI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=1660501), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Glider tow event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Luft UND Raumfah G103 TWIN ASTIR TRAI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510/sequence.md?model=1660501), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Luft UND Raumfah G103 TWIN ASTIR TRAI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1660501), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob Luft UND Raumfah G103 TWIN ASTIR TRAI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1660501), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor and student pilot of the glider were under aerotow. The flight instructor reported that very early during the takeoff, the rear canopy opened. Sitting in the rear seat and controlling the glider, the flight instructor could not close the canopy in flight and believed that continuing the tow was a higher risk than releasing and landing straight ahead. When the glider was near treetop level, the flight instructor released the tow and elected to land in a harvested corn field directly off the end of the runway. Upon touchdown, corn stalks built up in front of the glider’s main wheel, bringing the glider to an abrupt stop upright and pivoting it 180º from the direction of landing, and resulting in substantial damage to the aft fuselage. The flight instructor reported that it was likely that he did not properly close and lock the rear canopy, and that the glider had no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N103T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N103T), registered now, S/N 3144, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BURKHART GROB LUFT UND RAUMFAH G103 TWIN ASTIR TRAI
- Registry model: [Burkhart Grob Luft UND Raumfah G103 TWIN ASTIR TRAI](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-luft-und-raumfah-g103-twin-astir-trai) (registry code 1660501) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 3144
- Year built: 1978
- Engines: N/A none
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Huntsville Soaring Club
- Registered owner: Huntsville Soaring Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 3M5, Moontown Airport, runway 27, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: front; restraint: 4-point
- Flight instructor; age 68; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,079 total, 47 in this make and model, 952 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: MDQ, 8 nm away
- METAR: METAR KMDQ 262055Z AUTO 31015KT 10SM CLR 13/M08 A3019 RMK A02 T01261076=

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 14, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202242. 6.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20056009&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20056398&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Weather reports and records (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 395 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20056132&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=METAR-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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