# NTSB LAX02LA042: Burkhart Grob G102 Club Astir Iiib, N102FC, Banning, CA, December 7, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 7, 2001, 14:08 local (22:08 UTC) - Place: Banning, CA - Coordinates: 33.912776, -116.863891 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9128&lon=-116.8639&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-Riverside - NTSB case key (mKey): 53884 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53884/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA042 ## Probable cause On final approach, the pilot's failure to maintain adequate aircraft airspeed and control during an encounter with the gusting high wind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - airspeed(vs) - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis During the glider flight the pilot encountered adverse weather conditions and attempted to land. About 1 mile from the airport on final approach, the pilot encountered gusting high wind. The pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed and lost control of the glider. Witnesses reported that a wing suddenly lowered and the glider fell nearly straight down from an altitude of about 60 feet above the ground. An officer who arrived on scene within minutes of the crash reported that the wind speed was not less than 20 knots, with gusts to 40 knots. ## Factual narrative On December 7, 2001, about 1408 Pacific standard time, a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugab, G102 Club Astir IIIB, N102FC, encountered wind gusts on final approach to runway 08 at the Banning Municipal Airport, Banning, California. The glider descended rapidly and impacted into an open field about 1 mile southwest of the airport. The glider was operated by the Orange County Soaring Association, Hemet, California, and it was destroyed. The commercial certificated pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight that was performed under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Hemet about 1300. Within minutes of the accident, a Banning Police Department officer arrived on scene and interviewed several witnesses. The witnesses reported observing the eastbound glider approaching the airport. It was flying into an easterly wind. The officer stated that the consensus from the witnesses was that, at times during the glider's approach, its forward speed appeared to stop. As the glider descended, its wings rocked back and forth. Suddenly, a wing lowered and the glider appeared to fall nearly straight down from an altitude of about 60 feet above the ground. The officer additionally reported that the wind was blowing extremely hard from the east. Blowing dust was prevalent, and persons standing near the glider were swaying in the wind. The officer estimated that the minimum constant wind speed was between 20 and 25 knots. There were gusts between 35 and 40 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N102FC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N102FC-2005-03-17), registration cancelled 2005-03-17, S/N 5621 CB, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G102 Club Astir IIIB - Registry model: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-g102-club-astir-iiib) (registry code 1660106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 5621CB - Airframe hours: 2233 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Orange County Soaring Association - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 2001, 15 hours before - Departed: HMT, Hemet, CA - Destination: BNG, Banning, CA - Airport: BNG, Banning Municipal, runway 08, 5,200 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 15, 2000; seat: single; flight hours: 5,000 total, 25 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 11 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: PSP, 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 20011207033699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011207033699A), Dec 7, 2001: Grob G102IIIB, Banning, CA, Destroyed. (.19) On December 7, 2001, about 1408 hours pacific standard time, a burkhart Grob flugzeugab, G102 club astir iiib, N102FC, operated by the orange county… 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.