# NTSB LAX86LA134: Burkhart Grob 102, N102JC, Tehachapi, CA, March 5, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 5, 1986, 14:25 local (22:25 UTC)
- Place: Tehachapi, CA
- Coordinates: 35.120132, -118.509391 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1201&lon=-118.5094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25086
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25086/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA134

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - downdraft (cause)
  - weather forecast - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - improper decision, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - compensation for wind conditions - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

GROB 102 GLIDER COLLIDED WITH TREES 6 MI S OF THE APT. THE PLT WAS SOARING 2 MI S OF THE APT AT 5900 FT MSL AND 6200 FT MSL IN 'WEAK LIFT.' HE ELECTED TO FLY FURTHER S IN THE VIC OF A RIDGELINE WITH AN ELEV APPROX 6000 FT MSL. AGAIN THE PLT EXPERIENCED 'WEAK LIFT' COND THE PLT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN BETWEEN 5900 FT MSL AND 6100 FT MSL AND KEEP OPEN FIELDS WITHIN GLIDING DIST. THE PLT HAD MADE SEVERAL PASSES IN THE VIC OF THE RIDGELINE. ON THE 3RD PASS A STRONG DOWNDRAFT AND THE ACFT LOST 125 FT OF ALT AND 15 KTS OF A/S. THE PLT MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE ACFT AND COLLIDED WITH TREES SHORT OF THE OPEN FIELDS. THE PLT FLT LOG INDICATED HE HAD FLOWN FROM THE APT NINE TIMES SINCE OCT 1984 ONCE IN THE PREVIOUS 90 DAYS. HRLY WX RPTS BY FSS LOC 30 MI S OF APT WINDS 240 DEG AT 6 KTS 20 MIN PRIOR TO THE ACC AND CALM WINDS 40 MIN AFTER THE ACC. THE PLT IND THAT HE OBTAINED HIS WX FROM A PLT OBS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND NO FAA WX RPT OR BRIEFINGS WERE OBTAINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N102JC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N102JC-1989-09-19), registration cancelled 1989-09-19, S/N 5623CB (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob 102
- Registry model: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-g102-club-astir-iiib) (registry code 1660106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 5623CB
- Airframe hours: 136
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Skylark North Glider School
- Registered owner: John P. Chapman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 17, 1985, 37 hours before
- Departed: L94, TEHACHAPI, CA
- Airport: L94, Fantasy Haven

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; seat: front; flight hours: 765 total, 1 in this make and model, 725 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: WJF, 26 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 19860305005349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860305005349A), Mar 5, 1986: Grob G102ASTIR, Tehachapi, CA, Substantial damage. Strayed too FAR from open fields looking for lift along ridgeline. Struck trees when unable to maintain altitude.

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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