# NTSB NYC05CA097: Burkhart Grob G103 Twin Astir, N3872G, Wellington, OH, June 11, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 11, 2005, 12:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place: Wellington, OH
- Coordinates: 41.162498, -82.202774
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1625&lon=-82.2028&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61678
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05CA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61678/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05CA097

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude which resulted in an undershoot of the runway.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The glider was towed to 3,000 feet msl, and soared uneventfully over the local area.  At 1,700 feet, the pilot entered a left downwind leg runway 36; a 2,850-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, turf runway.  The glider was too low on the downwind leg, and the pilot flew a tighter traffic pattern to correct for the low altitude.  As the glider turned onto a left base leg, the pilot reported that it encountered a downdraft and possible headwind.  The glider remained too low and struck trees on the final approach to the runway.

## Factual narrative

On June 11, 2005, about 1240 eastern daylight time, a Burkhart Grob G103 Twin Astir glider, N3872G, was substantially damaged while landing at Reader-Botsford Airport (67D), Wellington, Ohio.  The certificated private pilot sustained minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that he was towed from 67D to 3,000 feet msl.  The glider released from the tow-plane and soared uneventfully over the local area.  At 1,700 feet, the pilot entered a left downwind leg runway 36; a 2,850-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, turf runway.  The glider was too low on the downwind leg, and the pilot flew a tighter traffic pattern to correct for the low altitude.  As the glider turned onto a left base leg, it encountered a downdraft and possible headwind.  The glider remained too low and struck trees on the final approach to the runway.  The glider came to rest in a field, and the wings sustained substantial damage.

The pilot reported the wind from the southwest, at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots.  The reported wind at an airport approximately 10 miles north of the accident site, at 1253, was from 230 degrees at 7 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3872G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G103 Twin Astir
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 3777
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Fun Country Soaring Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special); Standard, Normal
- Departed: 67D, Wellington, OH
- Airport: 67D, Reader-Botsford Airport, runway 36, 2,850 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 80; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; flight hours: 675 total, 67 in this make and model, 525 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: LPR

## 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 20050611012379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050611012379A), Jun 11, 2005: Grob G103TWNASTIR, Wellington, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was downwind for landing to the north, turned to the southeast and pilot said he was too low and struck some tree tops.

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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