# NTSB NYC00LA135: Burkhart Grob G103, N3872G, Wellington, OH, May 13, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 2000, 14:55 local (18:55 UTC) - Place: Wellington, OH - Coordinates: 41.160121, -82.220069 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1601&lon=-82.2201&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 November 29, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49192 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49192/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA135 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor was the pilot's improper in-flight decision to abort the initial climb due to an open canopy. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb - window,canopy - open - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency ## Analysis The pilot was in a glider being towed by an airplane. After takeoff, about 50 feet above the ground, the rear canopy of the glider 'banged' open. The pilot decided to abort the climb in an attempt to prevent canopy damage. He released from tow, and tried to land on the remaining runway. The pilot added that during the attempt, he lost control of the glider, and impacted terrain. ## Factual narrative On May 13, 2000, about 1455 Eastern Daylight Time, a Grob G103 (glider), N3872G, was substantially damaged during an aborted climb-out from Botsford Airport (67D), Wellington, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The glider was departing Runway 18, a 2,700 foot long and 300 foot wide grass runway. The pilot stated that the glider was being towed by an airplane. About 50 feet above the ground, the rear canopy "banged" opened, and the pilot decided to abort the climb in an attempt to prevent canopy damage. He released from tow, and tried to land on the remaining runway. During the attempt, he lost control of the glider, it "came down flat," and impacted terrain. The glider came to rest off the right side of the runway, abeam the departure end. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. At 1453, the reported winds at an airport approximately 10 miles from the accident site, were from 270 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 24 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N3872G (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G103 - Category: Glider - Serial number: 3777 - Airframe hours: 2239 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fun Country Soaring Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 18, 2000, 3 hours before - Departed: 67D - Airport: 67D, Botsford Airfield, runway 18, 2,700 × 300 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 2,149 total, 100 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 16 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LPR, 10 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 20000513042829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000513042829A), May 13, 2000: Grob G103TWNASTIR, Wellington, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot said he forgot to latch the rear canopy and during the initial climb at approximately 100 feet AGL the rear canopy opened. The pilot released… 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.