# NTSB LAX07CA149: Burkhart Grob G102 Club Astir Iiib, N851BG, Minden, NV, April 29, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 29, 2007, 15:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Minden, NV - Coordinates: 39.000278, -119.751113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0003&lon=-119.7511&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65728 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65728/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA149 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude that resulted in an undershoot of the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - maneuver to avoid obstructions - attempted, pilot in command - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The glider landed 300 yards short of the airport and collided with low vegetation causing substantial damage. When the glider was on downwind, the pilot observed a glider on the runway preparing to depart. He decided to extend his downwind in order to avoid a collision and land instead on an adjacent taxiway. On final approach he realized he would not be able to reach the taxiway. The pilot stated that he had either extended the downwind leg too far, or had encountered sink. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2007, about 1540 Pacific daylight time, a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Club Astir IIIB glider, N851BG, collided with flat desert terrain at the approach end of runway 12 at the Minden Tahoe Airport (MEV) Airport, Minden, Nevada. Soar Minden, Inc., operated the glider under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries; the glider sustained substantial damage. The local area flight departed Minden about 1512. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed; no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated in a written report that he departed Minden with the intention of making a recreational soaring flight. Unable to find any workable lift, he elected to return to the airport and land. When the glider was on downwind the pilot observed a glider on the runway preparing to depart. He decided to extend his downwind and land on the adjacent taxiway. On final approach he realized he would not be able to reach the taxiway and landed the glider 300 yards short in sagebrush. The impact caused cracking of the fuselage and empennage bulkheads, as well as substantial damage to the keel and landing gear. The pilot stated that he had either extended the downwind leg too far, or had encountered sink. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N851BG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N851BG), registered now, S/N 5639 CB (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: 5639 CB - Airframe hours: 4092 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Soar Minden, Inc. - Registered owner: Sabino Antonio M - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2006 - Departed: MEV, MINDEN, NV - Destination: MEV, MINDEN, NV - Airport: MEV, Minden-Tahoe, runway 12G, 2,200 × 60 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; private, foreign; seat: single; flight hours: 164 total, 20 in this make and model, 80 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 19 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: MEV ## 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 20070429007939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070429007939A), Apr 29, 2007: Grob G102IIIB, Minden, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) On approach to landing at mev, the pilot experienced a glider below him and another glider off to one side. The pilot elected to extend downwind to give… ## Other investigations on N851BG (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX96LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA135), Mar 14, 1996: Burkhart Grob G102 (N851BG), Minden, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude from the airport, which resulted in an off-airport forced landing. 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.