# NTSB LAX95LA123: Burkhart Grob G102 Astir CS, N57GE, Jean, NV, February 27, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 26, 1995, 16:12 local (Feb 27, 1995, 00:12 UTC) - Place: Jean, NV - Coordinates: 35.749744, -115.529441 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7497&lon=-115.5294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29046 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29046/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA123 ## Probable cause the pilot's decision to fly in known adverse weather conditions which resulted in a wind shear encounter at low altitude during the takeoff initial climb. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - thunderstorm - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - weather condition - windshear - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTNING WERE OBSERVED WEST OF THE AIRPORT. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER ACHIEVED ABOUT 300 FEET AGL DURING THE TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 20 BY AUTO TOW. INSTEAD OF COMPLETING A NORMAL PITCH UP TO INCREASE ALTITUDE, THE PILOT RELEASED THE TOW LINE, FLEW TO THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY IN A DESCENT, AND WAS PERFORMING A 270-DEGREE LEFT TURN TO LAND ON A SHORT CROSSWIND RUNWAY WHEN THE LEFT WING TIP DRUG THE GROUND. THE GLIDER THEN CARTWHEELED. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS AWARE OF THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TO THE WEST OF THE RUNWAY, BUT ELECTED TO DO A SHORT FLIGHT. HE SAID THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE GLIDER ACHIEVED 300 FEET AGL WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED A SUDDEN DOWNWIND CONDITION. DURING THE ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE DURING THE TURN AND THE LEFT WING TIP INADVERTENTLY CONTACTED THE GROUND. ## Factual narrative On February 26, 1995, at 1612 Pacific standard time, a Burkhart Grob G102 Astir CS glider, N57GE, drug a wing and collided with the ground while attempting a rejected takeoff maneuver at the Jean, Nevada, airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed with witness reports of lightening and cumulonimbus cloud activity nearby. The glider was destroyed in the ground collision sequence. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident as a local area personal operation. Ground witnesses reported that the glider achieved about 300 feet above ground level (agl) during the takeoff on runway 20 by auto tow. Instead of completing a normal pitch up to increase altitude, the pilot released the tow line, flew to the departure end of the runway in a descent, and was performing a 270-degree left turn to land on a short crosswind runway when the left wing tip drug the ground. The glider then cartwheeled. The pilot was interviewed March 1, 1995, by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors from the Las Vegas, Nevada, Flight Standards District Office. The pilot stated that he was aware of the thunderstorm activity to the west of the runway. The takeoff was normal until the glider achieved 300 feet agl when the pilot encountered a sudden downwind condition. The pilot decided that the glider was incapable of gaining altitude with the wind conditions and elected to land on a short crosswind runway. He was attempting a 270-degree turn to that runway, but was unable to maintain airspeed and altitude during the turn and the left wing tip inadvertently contacted the ground. The 1550 official Las Vegas aviation surface weather observation was reporting in part: " . . . Cumulonimbus clouds southwest through west moving northeast. Occasional cloud to cloud and cloud to ground lightening southwest. Moderate cumulus clouds over mountains all quadrants." The accident site is 23 miles south of the weather observation station. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57GE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57GE-1997-03-20), registration cancelled 1997-03-20, S/N 1229 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BURKHART GROB G102 ASTIR CS (G102 ASTIR) - Registry model: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 ASTIR CS](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-g102-astir-cs) (registry code 1660104) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 1229 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ralph D. Biesemeyer - Registered owner: Michael W. Payne - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 0L7 - Airport: 0L7, Jean, runway 20, 4,545 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,600 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LAS, 23 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 19950226002559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950226002559A), Feb 26, 1995: Grob G102ASTIR, Jean, NV, Destroyed. Climbed 300FT by auto tow. Cut loose. No pitching. Alternate runway due weather near. Wing hit ground, 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.