# NTSB LAX84LA076: Burkhart Grob G-103, N62BG, California City, CA, November 27, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 27, 1983, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: California City, CA
- Coordinates: 35.149833, -117.919342 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1498&lon=-117.9193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24096
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24096/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA076

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE WAS TURNING TO FINAL APPROACH WHEN THE GLIDER'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. REPORTEDLY, HE HAD GOTTEN 'TOO LOW & SLOW.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62BG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62BG), registered now, S/N 3649, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G-103
- Registry model: [Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-g-103-twin-ii) (registry code 1660203) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 3649
- Airframe hours: 243
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aquarian Soaring
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 1983, 100 hours before
- Airport: L71, California City, runway 24, 6,000 × 70 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: center; flight hours: 166 total, 4 in this make and model, 134 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19831127058889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831127058889A), Nov 27, 1983: Grob G103TWNASTIR, California City, CA, Substantial damage. Too low and slow on approach. Dragged a wing turning final. Glider cartwheeled.

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.