# NTSB FTW94LA196: Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II, N5462N, Wellington, CO, June 5, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 4, 1994, 19:00 local (Jun 5, 1994, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Wellington, CO
- Coordinates: 40.700447, -105.000999 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7004&lon=-105.0010&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19086
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA196
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19086/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA196

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER SPOILER EXTENSION AND FLARE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - spoiler extension - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OPENED THE SPOILERS HALFWAY ON BASE LEG, THEN OPENED THEM FULLY ON FINAL APPROACH. AS HE FLARED FOR LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN 'SOONER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE' AND BOUNCED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER BY RETRACTING THE SPOILERS TO THE HALFWAY POSITION AND REDUCING THE NOSE UP ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON ITS NOSEWHEEL AND THE PILOT SAID HE 'TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL.'

## Factual narrative

On June 4, 1994, approximately 1900 mountain daylight time, a Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II, N5462N, was substantially damaged during landing at Wellington, Colorado.  The private pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The following is based on the pilot/operator report.  The newly certificated glider pilot was on his third solo flight in the G 103.  The first solo flight had been uneventful.  On his second solo flight, the landing approach had been flown faster than normal and the aircraft bounced on touchdown.  On the third solo flight, the spoilers were opened halfway on base leg, and fully opened on final approach.  The pilot said as he flared, the aircraft touched down "sooner than it should have" and bounced.  He attempted to recover by retracting the spoilers to the halfway position and reducing the nose up attitude, but the aircraft landed hard on its nosewheel.  The pilot said he "temporarily lost control" and the aircraft bounced along the ground, damaging the tailboom and vertical stabilizer.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5462N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5462N), registered now, S/N 3875 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BURKHART GROB G 103 TWIN II (G 103 TWIN)
- Registry model: [Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-g-103-twin-ii) (registry code 1660203) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 3875
- Airframe hours: 1654
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Colorado Soaring Association
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 25, 1994, 30 hours before
- Airport: 4CO2, Owl Canyon, runway 19R, 4,000 × 15 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 148 total, 3 in this make and model, 73 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## Other investigations on N5462N (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 CEN09CA368](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA368), Jun 19, 2009: Grob G103 (N5462N), Wellington, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the glider during takeoff.

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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