# NTSB GAA17CA343: Burkhart Grob G103C, N103GH, Boerne, TX, June 15, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 15, 2017, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place: Boerne, TX
- Coordinates: 29.725276, -98.694725 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7253&lon=-98.6947&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 23, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95380
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA343
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95380/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95380
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA343

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate glidepath and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the glider landing short of the runway.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1660207), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1660207), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1660207), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=1660207), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=1660207), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=1660207), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1660207), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor of the glider reported that, during landing, about 100 above the ground, "a sink rate started to develop." He added that he took over the flight controls and closed the spoilers. The glider impacted the airport perimeter fence, landed short of the runway, and then slid into a culvert. The glider sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The flight instructor did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report.

## Factual narrative

The flight instructor of a glider report that, during landing, about 100 above the ground, a "a sink rate started to develop". He added that, he took over the flight controls and closed the spoilers. The glider impacted the airport perimeter fence and landed short of the runway, then slid into a culvert. The glider sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The flight instructor failed to submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N103GH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N103GH), registered now, S/N 34110, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BURKHART GROB G103C (TWIN II AC)
- Registry model: [Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-g103c-twin-iii-acro) (registry code 1660207) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 34110
- Year built: 1989
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Departed: 5C1, Boerne, TX
- Destination: 5C1, Boerne, TX
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: 5C1, Boerne Stage Field, runway 17, 5,006 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 67; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations
- Student pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 14 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: KSAT, 15 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 20170615010869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170615010869A), Jun 15, 2017: Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO, Boerne, TX, Substantial damage. Flight review was being conducted in N103GH. Both occupants of the aircraft are glider rated pilots. Pilot 1 was instructing pilot 2. This was the second fight…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95380. 844 KB in all.

- Flight Instructor Statement (item 1, .PDF, 345 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458865&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Pilot Receiving Instruction Statement (item 2, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458866&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Receiving%20Instruction%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 382 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF

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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