- Date
- July 5, 1998, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Refugio, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N103GGBurkhart Grob G103 Twin II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 28, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980705015659A
- Case key
- 20672
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent ground loop. A factor was the pilot's failure to follow procedures in securing the rear canopy, which resulted in the canopy opening in flight.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During takeoff climb from runway 14, about 150 to 200 feet above the ground, the rear canopy of the glider opened. The pilot released the towline and attempted to return to the runway. During the ensuing landing, the glider 'ground looped,' striking its right wing on the ground. The pilot reported that he forgot to latch the canopy prior to takeoff.
Factual narrative
On July 5, 1998, at 1415 central daylight time, a Burkhart Grob G103 Twin II glider, N103GG, owned and operated by Refugio Soaring Circle, Inc., of Refugio, Texas, was substantially damaged by a ground loop during an emergency landing near Refugio, Texas. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating from the Refugio Field Airport at the time of the accident.
The pilot, who was seated in the aft seat of the 2-place glider, reported that during the initial takeoff climb from runway 14, while the glider was about 150 to 200 feet above the ground, the canopy for the rear canopy became opened. The pilot added that he released the towline and attempted to return to the runway. During the ensuing landing, the glider "ground looped," striking its right wing on the ground. The pilot further reported that the left and right wings, fuselage, and tail were "badly bent."
The pilot also reported that he "forgot to latch the canopy" prior to takeoff.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N103GG
- Reported as
- Burkhart Grob G103 Twin II (G103 TWIN)
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 33903
- Airframe hours
- 1,200
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Rufugio Soaring Circle, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- RFG
- Airport
- RFG · Rooke Field Airport, runway 14, 3,275 × 60 ft
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 78
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 7,000 total · 400 in this make and model · 7,000 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 135° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 95 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.