# NTSB IAD02LA048: Burkhart Grob G103, N5364G, Fairfield, PA, May 5, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 5, 2002, 12:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Fairfield, PA - Coordinates: 39.756942, -77.351112 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7569&lon=-77.3511&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54639 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD02LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54639/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54639 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD02LA048 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain proper runway alignment. A factor in the accident was the pilot's delay in retracting the spoilers. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - spoiler retraction - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot completed a left traffic pattern to land on runway 33L, one of two parallel grass runways. He overshot the runway, and decided to land on runway 33R. He subsequently left the spoilers deployed for too long, and descended faster than expected. He attempted to align the glider with the runway, but was unable to level the wings prior to the left wing tip striking the ground. When asked about the performance of the glider, the pilot stated, "The glider performed fine. It was responding as designed. Unfortunately, the inputs were not correct." ## Factual narrative On May 5, 2002, at 1210 eastern daylight time, a Burkhart Grob G103, N5364G, was substantially damaged during a collision with terrain while landing at the Mid-Atlantic Soaring Center (W73), Fairfield, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that he was making an approach to runway 33L, one of two parallel grass runways, during a left-to-right crosswind. As he turned from the base leg onto the final approach course, he realized that he overshot the intended runway, and decided to land on runway 33R. The pilot further stated that during his attempt to align the glider with runway 33R, he left the spoilers deployed for too long, and descended faster than expected. The glider approached the touch-down point in a left-wing-low attitude, and the pilot was unable to level the wings before the left wing tip struck the ground. The glider rotated to the left, and the side load broke the tail boom. The pilot flew four glider flights on the week before the accident, one earlier on the day of the accident. Two of the flights were in the Burkhart Grob G103. Prior to those two flights, he hadn't flown a G103 for several years. When asked about the performance and handling of the glider, the pilot stated: "The glider performed fine. It was responding as designed. Unfortunately, the inputs were not correct." The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a glider rating. He reported 440 glider flights, for a total of 214 hours of flight experience. His most recent biennial flight review was April 7, 2002. The weather reported at Hagerstown, Maryland, 18 miles west of the accident site, included clear skies with variable winds at 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5364G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5364G), registered now, S/N 3865, built 1984 (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: 3865 - Airframe hours: 4641 - Engines: Aero Engines - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mid-Atlantic Soaring Association - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 2001, 24 hours before - Departed: W73, FAIRFIELD, PA - Airport: W73, Mid-Atlantic Soaring Center, runway 33R, 2,700 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; last flight review April 7, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 214 total, 166 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: HGR, 18 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 20020505018389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020505018389A), May 5, 2002: Grob G103TWNASTIR, Fairfield, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) While on final, the pilot allowed the aircraft to drift from the left grass runway (33L) towards the right grass runway (33R). While making an adjustment… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54639. 719 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 622 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40174037&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436522&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Summary of Interview with Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436523&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.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. --- 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.