# NTSB LAX07CA223: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Astir CS, N132SS, Truckee, CA, July 7, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 7, 2007, 14:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Truckee, CA - Coordinates: 39.319999, -120.139442 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3200&lon=-120.1394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66281 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66281/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA223 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for a wind gust during landing flare, 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 - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The glider sustained damage during a hard landing. A wind gust was encountered during the glider pilot's landing flare and the glider rapidly descended from 2 to 3 feet above the runway until touching down hard, collapsing the main landing gear and breaking structural bulkheads in the fuselage. The pilot's approach to the runway had been uneventful and appeared normal until the landing flare, according to a certified flight instructor who witnessed the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 2007, about 1455 Pacific daylight time, a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Astir CS, N132SS, made a hard landing on runway 19 at the Truckee-Tahoe Airport, Truckee, California. The glider was owned and operated by the Northern California Soaring Association, Byron, California, and it was substantially damaged. The private pilot was not injured during the personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Truckee about 1330. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator during interviews conducted on July 7 and August 6, that he had made a normal traffic pattern approach to the runway. However, between 2 and 3 feet above the runway a gust was encountered. The glider "came down faster than normal and the landing felt hard." The center landing gear collapsed on touchdown. A certified flight instructor, who was located at the airport, reported that the glider's approach to the runway appeared normal until during the landing when it was approximately 3 feet above ground level. At that time "the glider dropped to the runway." At 1455, the airport's wind direction and speed was recorded. It was from 230 degrees at 8 knots. The glider's structure was examined by an FAA certificated Airframe and Powerplant mechanic. The mechanic reported observing damage to the undercarriage in the vicinity of the center gear and abrasion damage to belly skin. The main front frame bulkhead was observed bent and broken in the vicinity of the center gear housing. The rear bulkhead in the fuselage structure was also bent on the right side behind the location of the center gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N132SS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N132SS), registered now, S/N 1286, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Astir CS - Registry model: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 ASTIR CS](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-g102-astir-cs) (registry code 1660104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 1286 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Northern California Soaring Association - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TRK, Truckee, CA - Destination: TRK, Truckee, CA - Airport: TRK, Truckee-Tahoe, runway 19, 4,650 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; flight hours: 183 total, 30 in this make and model, 89 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: TRK ## 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 20070707020849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070707020849A), Jul 7, 2007: Grob G102ASTIR, Truckee, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) After returning from a local flight in the vicinity of Truckee, CA the pilot entered the pattern at 1000 ft. AGL. On final, a side slip was used to… 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.