# NTSB FTW89DQA03: Burkhart Grob G109B, N224BG, El Paso, TX, February 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: February 26, 1989, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: El Paso, TX
- Coordinates: 31.640983, -106.27069 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6410&lon=-106.2707&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22705
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89DQA03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22705/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89DQA03

## Probable cause

PILOT IN COMMAND'S LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO OVERCONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT. THE SITUATION WAS PROCEEDED BY A HIGH SINK RATE THAT RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING WITH AN INADEQUATE RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INEXPERIENCE AT FLYING THE AIRPLANE FROM THE RIGHT SEAT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - aircraft parked/standing (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK TWO PARKED ACFT FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE LANDING. THE PLT STATED THAT SHE OVERCONTROLLED WITH SPOILERS AFTER HAVING BOUNCED ON LANDING DUE TO A HIGH SINK RATE. WINDS WERE GUSTING AT THE TIME AND THE PLT WAS FLYING FROM THE RIGHT SEAT, A POSITION FROM WHICH SHE HAD LIMITED EXPERIENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N224BG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G109B
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 6365
- Airframe hours: 275
- Engines: LIMBACH L2000 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Suzanne S. Azar
- Registered owner: G109 B Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 3, 1989, 11 hours before
- Departed: ELP, EL PASO, TX
- Airport: TX04, West Texas, runway 8, 4,100 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,330 total, 15 in this make and model, 1,255 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELP, 10 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 19890226002729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890226002729A), Feb 26, 1989: Grob G109B, El Paso, TX, Substantial damage. Bounced and lost control on landing glider veered off runway striking two parked aircraft.

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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