# NTSB FTW98LA244: Burkhart Grob 103, N427BG, Briggs, TX, May 23, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 23, 1998, 15:18 local (20:18 UTC) - Place: Briggs, TX - Location: 30.8563° N, 97.9459° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FLF (TX23), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8563&lon=-97.9459&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20628 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA244 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20628/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA244 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of the distance and altitude. Factors were the lack of thermal lift and his diverted attention while on downwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - no thermal lift (contributing factor) - Undershoot, approach - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The glider pilot had released the glider from the tow plane prematurely at 1,500 feet MSL due to conflicting traffic. After 'thermalling with another glider for a while, he could not find much lift,' so he headed back to the airport to land. The pilot added that he was too low when he entered the downwind leg for runway 16; however, he estimated that he would be able to reach the approach end of the runway. In a written statement, he stated that he became distracted by a yellow glider that he thought was blocking the landing runway. The pilot reported that while maneuvering to land at the threshold for the 4,500-foot turf runway, he turned the aircraft onto the base leg prematurely; consequently the left wing impacted the ground nearly perpendicular to the runway near the threshold. Subsequently, the glider impacted the ground in a nose low attitude, bounced back in the air and impacted the ground in a tail low attitude, separating the tail section. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 1998, at 1518 central daylight time, a Grob 103 glider, N427BG, was substantially damaged when it undershot the runway while landing near Briggs, Texas. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The glider was owned and operated by Fault Line Flyers, Inc., of Round Rock, Texas, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the local flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Fault Line Flyers Gliderport (TX23) near Briggs, Texas, approximately 10 minutes prior to the accident. According to the pilot, he released the glider from the tow plane prematurely at 1,500 feet MSL due to conflicting traffic. After "thermalling with another glider for a while, he could not find much lift," so he headed back to the airport to land. The pilot added that he was too low when he entered the downwind leg for runway 16; however, he estimated that he would be able to reach the approach end of the runway. In a written statement submitted by the pilot, he stated that he became distracted by a yellow glider that he thought was blocking the runway. The pilot reported that while maneuvering to land at the threshold for the 4,500 foot turf runway, he turned the aircraft on to the base leg prematurely; consequently, the left wing impacted the ground nearly perpendicular to the runway near the threshold. Subsequently, the glider impacted the ground in a nose low attitude, bounced back in the air and impacted the ground in a tail low attitude, separating the tail section from the airframe. Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector confirmed that the left wing and the tail section of the 1982 model glider sustained structural damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N427BG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N427BG), registered now, S/N 3739, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob 103 - 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: 3739 - Airframe hours: 4251 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rich Sheafer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 1998, 25 hours before - Departed: TX23 - Airport: TX23, Fault Line Flyers, runway 16, 4,500 × 250 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 199 total, 5 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 15 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F ## 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 19980523015449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980523015449A), May 23, 1998: Grob G103TWNASTIR, Briggs, TX, Substantial damage. Released tow early due traffic. Impacted short of rwy trying to return. Broke off empannage. (.4)the glider pilot had released the glider from the tow plane… 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.