# NTSB LAX89LA245: Burkhart Grob G-102, N925G, Maricopa, AZ, July 15, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 15, 1989, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Maricopa, AZ
- Location: 33.0853° N, 112.1610° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ESTRELLA SAILPORT (E68), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0853&lon=-112.1610&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 2, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26450
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA245
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26450/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA245

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. ALSO CAUSAL TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPENING OF THE CANOPY FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb
  - window,canopy - undetermined (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - not possible (cause)

## Analysis

THE GLIDER HAD JUST DEPARTED THE GLIDER PORT BEHIND A TOW PLANE. AT 200 FEET AGL, THE CANOPY SNAPPED OPEN AND THE TOW ROPE BROKE. THE PILOT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN AND LANDED HARD ON THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THE CANOPY WAS CLOSED AND LOCKED BEFORE HE STARTED THE TAKEOFF ROLL. AN FAA INSPECTOR INSPECTED THE CANOPY AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LOCKING MECHANISM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N925G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N925G-2011-08-17), registration cancelled 2011-08-17, S/N 5587 CB, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G-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)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert Harris Leasing
- Departed: E68
- Airport: E68, Estrella Sailport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; seat: center; flight hours: 80 total, 6 in this make and model, 55 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19890715028739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890715028739A), Jul 15, 1989: Grob G102ASTIR, Maricopa, AZ, Substantial damage. Canopy came open on tow. Rope broke from drag. Pilot made 180 and landed hard on same runway. No latch defects.

## Other investigations on N925G (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 LAX05LA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA281), Aug 29, 2005: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Club Astir Iiib (N925G), Minden, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's failure to ensure that the canopy was properly latched prior to departure. The inadequate supervision of the flight by the instructor and flight school was also causal.

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.