# NTSB FTW94LA020: Burkhart Grob G103, N94BG, San Antonio, TX, October 25, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 25, 1993, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.520851, -98.520622 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5209&lon=-98.5206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 17, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18960 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18960/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA020 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL LOOKOUT. FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND DISTRACTED ATTENTION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - ground ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT HE WAS 40 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN HE BANKED RIGHT FROM BASE LEG TO FINAL APPROACH. HE SAID HE HAD BEEN WATCHING THE ALTIMETER INSTEAD OF LOOKING OUTSIDE. HIS ATTENTION WAS DIRECTED OUTSIDE THE AIRCRAFT WHEN HE FELT THE RIGHT WING AND NOSE CONTACT THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID LATER HE WAS 'UNFAMILIAR WITH THE TERRITORY AND RAN OUT OF AIRSPACE,' AND THAT THE 'ALTIMETER WAS SET WRONG.' ## Factual narrative On October 25, 1993, at approximately 1600 central daylight time, N94BG, a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103, impacted terrain during landing approach to Boerne Stage Field, San Antonio, Texas. The two pilots aboard were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The pilot said he was "unfamiliar with the territory and ran out of airspace. Upon landing, pilot noted altimeter was set wrong." According to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot told him he was banking right from base leg to final approach. He said he should have been looking outside, but instead was watching the altimeter. He thought he was 40 feet above the ground when he made the turn. His attention was directed outside the aircraft when he felt the nose and right wing striking the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94BG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94BG-2022-11-30), registration cancelled 2022-11-30, S/N 3652, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G103 - Registry model: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-g103-twin-astir) (registry code 1660202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 3652 - Airframe hours: 950 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Osprey Soaring School - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 1993, 88 hours before - Airport: 5C1, Boerne Stage Field, runway 35, 3,400 × 36 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; seat: front; flight hours: 132 total, 3 in this make and model, 69 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SAT, 16 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 19931025041279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931025041279A), Oct 25, 1993: Grob G103ATWINII, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. Beleived 40FT AGL turning final by gauge. Wing hit ground. Cartwheeled. Altimeter offset blamed. Failed look outside ## Other investigations on N94BG (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW92LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92LA079), Mar 1, 1992: Burkhart Grob G103 (N94BG), Boerne, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT IN COMMAND INADVERTENTLY STALLING THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT NOT MAINTAINING PROPER ALTITUDE DURING THE APPROACH AND HIS ABRUPT AIRCRAFT HANDLING. 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.