# NTSB LAX07CA154: Burkhart Grob G103 Twin II, N49443, Minden, NV, May 10, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 10, 2007, 10:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Minden, NV - Coordinates: 39.000556, -119.751113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0006&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): 65768 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65768/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA154 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed, which led to an inadvertent stall. ## 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 - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The student pilot stalled the glider and impacted the ground hard about 100 feet short of the 5,300-foot-long runway. The accident occurred while the certified flight instructor (CFI) observed his student perform the 4th landing following her initial solo flight. The CFI reported that his student's first three landings had been somewhat long. Before the student departed on her 4th flight, she stated to him that she would try to land shorter. The CFI reported that the glider appeared to be descending slowly, and when it was about 100 feet short of the approach end of runway 30 it stalled, rapidly descended, and impacted the ground. The wind was light and variable. ## Factual narrative On May 10, 2007, about 1040 Pacific daylight time, a Burkhart Grob, G103 Twin II, N49443, stalled on short final approach and impacted the ground hard. The accident occurred at the Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, Nevada. The glider was substantially damaged, and the pilot received a minor injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local area solo instructional flight. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Minden about 1027. The student held a private pilot certificate, airplane single engine land, and she was working to obtain a glider rating. In the student glider pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," she indicated that on short final approach the glider "encountered heavy sink, lost altitude, and landed 100 feet short of runway." She additionally reported that the accident could have been prevented if she had "more altitude/speed on final." The student's certified flight instructor (CFI) reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he was monitoring his student's first solo flight, and he witnessed the accident. The CFI stated that his student's first three landings had been somewhat long. Before the student departed on her 4th flight, she stated to him that she would try to land shorter. The CFI reported that the glider appeared to be descending slowly, and when it was about 100 feet short of the approach end of runway 30 it stalled, rapidly descended and impacted the ground. The student reported to the Safety Board investigator that the wind was light and variable. The CFI reported that he did not detect any wind gust. About 46 minutes after the accident the airport's automated weather observing system reported a calm wind condition. Runway 30 is 5,300 feet long and 75 feet wide. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N49443](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49443-2011-08-11), registration cancelled 2011-08-11, S/N 3848-K-94 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G103 Twin II - Registry model: [Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-g-103-twin-ii) (registry code 1660203) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 3848-K-94 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Soar Minden - Registered owner: Antonio Sabino - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MEV, Minden, NV - Destination: MEV, Minden, NV - Airport: MEV, Minden-Tahoe, runway 30, 5,300 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 81 total, 9 in this make and model, 21 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: MEV, 1 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 20070510009539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070510009539A), May 10, 2007: Grob G103ATWIN2, Minden, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) On approach to runway 30 at Minden-Tahoe Airport, the glider, N49443, landed short of the runway. The glider ground looped, resulting in substantial… ## Other investigations on N49443 (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 NYC88LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA161), Jun 5, 1988: Burkhart Grob G-103A (N49443), Franconia, NH, substantial damage 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.