# NTSB LAX06CA189: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir, N4464P, Llano, CA, June 3, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 3, 2006, 12:13 local (19:13 UTC)
- Place: Llano, CA
- Coordinates: 34.485279, -117.832778
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4853&lon=-117.8328&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63847
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63847/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA189

## Probable cause

the student pilot's failure to recover from a porpoise/pilot induced oscillation, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The glider landed hard on the runway and the empennage fractured from the remainder of the structure.  On final approach, the glider entered a pilot induced oscillation.  The glider then landed hard on the runway.  The student pilot said that the glider did not have any mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

## Factual narrative

On June 3, 2006, at 1213 Pacific daylight time, a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir glider, N4464P, landed hard on the runway at Crystal Airport, Llano, California.  Great Western Soaring School, Inc., was operating the glider under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The glider sustained substantial damage.  The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local area instructional flight.

The student pilot stated that as he entered onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, the glider began a pilot induced oscillation.  When the glider touched down hard upon the runway, the empennage separated.  There were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider during the flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4464P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4464P-2025-11-29), registration cancelled 2025-11-29, S/N 3823-K-82, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir
- 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: 3823-K-82
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Great Western Soaring School, Inc.
- Registered owner: Gemsbok Systems, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 46CN, Llano, CA
- Destination: 46CN, Llano, CA
- Airport: 46CN, Crystal Airport, runway 25, 2,700 × 32 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; student; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg

## 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 20060603013529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060603013529A), Jun 3, 2006: Grob G103TWNASTIR, Llano, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On Saturday, June 3, 2006, at approximately 1213 hours PDT, solo student pilot, [privacy data omitted], landing N4464P, a Grob G103 twin ii glider, at…

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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