# NTSB LAX96LA234: Burkhart Grob G102, N154SS, Mesquite, NV, June 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 15, 1996, 17:30 local (Jun 16, 1996, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Mesquite, NV - Location: 36.8055° N, 114.0672° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mesquite, NV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8055&lon=-114.0672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29473 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29473/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA234 ## Probable cause improper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot, which resulted in his being forced to land in an area with unsuitable terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the lack of available (thermal) lift, downdraft(s), and the resultant lack of suitable terrain for an off-airport (emergency) landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - weather condition - no thermal lift (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot and 11 other glider pilots planned to fly nonstop on a 500 kilometer flight from their point of departure, after an aero tow to 7,000 feet mean sea level. No communication difficulties or control problems were reported during periodic radio contacts between the glider pilot and the ground crew. En route, some of the glider pilots experienced turbulence and occasional downdrafts. Subsequently, the glider collided with rough terrain near a ridge line. There were no witnesses to the accident. The pilot's son indicated that his father was apparently unable to locate sufficient lift to continue his flight for an additional 11 miles to the destination airport. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 1996, at 1730 hours Pacific daylight time, a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102, N154SS, collided with rough terrain during an off-airstrip forced landing approximately 11 miles southeast of Mesquite, Nevada. The glider broke into several pieces and was destroyed. The private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight which originated from Llano, California, at 1100. According to the pilot's son, his father had purchased the glider in 1977 or 1978, and he was very familiar with its flying characteristics. During the accident flight, the pilot, along with 11 other glider pilots, was attempting to fly nonstop 500 kilometers from the point of departure. At the beginning of the flight, the accident glider received an aero tow to 7,000 feet mean sea level whereupon the pilot released from the tow plane. No communication difficulties or glider control problems were reported during periodic radio contacts between the glider pilot and the ground crew. Other glider pilots flying along nearby routes experienced turbulence and occasional downdrafts. The pilot's son further reported that the entire glider was found near a ridge line, and it appeared as though his father had failed to locate sufficient lift to continue his flight for an additional 11 miles to the Mesquite Municipal Airport. There were no witnesses to the accident. Family members reported that the pilot was not currently taking medications that would have adversely affected his ability to fly. The coroner reported to the Federal Aviation Administration coordinator that insufficient remains existed to perform an autopsy or toxicological tests. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N154SS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N154SS-1997-03-04), registration cancelled 1997-03-04, S/N 1725 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G102 - 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: 1725 - Airframe hours: 2019 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fritz O. Seger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 29, 1996, 45 hours before - Departed: L01, LLANO, CA - Destination: 67L, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; private; medical: unknown; seat: center; flight hours: 2,545 total, 2,019 in this make and model, 2,515 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 19960615013889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960615013889A), Jun 15, 1996: Grob G102ASTIR, Mesquite, NV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On cross country flight crashed in mountainous area. (.19) on June 15, 1996, at 1730 hours pacific daylight time, a burkhart Grob flugzeugbau G102, N154SS,… 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.