# NTSB NYC08CA025: Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II, N46009, Windham, NY, November 4, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 4, 2007, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Windham, NY
- Coordinates: 42.299999, -74.25
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3000&lon=-74.2500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67010
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67010/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA025

## Probable cause

An inadvertent encounter with a wind gust while maneuvering.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - weather condition - gusts
  - flight into adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot passenger (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

Both pilots were alternating flying duties in a Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II glider.  They had been soaring along a ridge for approximately 1 hour in non-turbulent wind.  The rear seat pilot was flying on the upwind side of the ridge, about 500 feet above the summit, when a gust of wind suddenly forced the glider to the downwind side of the ridge, about 25 feet below the summit.  The glider then impacted trees, sustained substantial damage, and both pilots were seriously injured.  The reported wind at an airport about 25 miles northeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was 270 degrees at 6 knots.  Examination of the glider did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilots report any.

## Factual narrative

Both pilots were alternating flying duties in a Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II glider.  They had been soaring along a ridge for approximately 1 hour in non-turbulent wind.  The rear seat pilot was flying on the upwind side of the ridge, about 500 feet above the summit, when a gust of wind suddenly forced the glider to the downwind side of the ridge, about 25 feet below the summit.  The glider then impacted trees, sustained substantial damage, and both pilots were seriously injured.  The reported wind at an airport about 25 miles northeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was 270 degrees at 6 knots.  Examination of the glider by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilots report any.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N46009](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46009-2017-03-21), registration cancelled 2017-03-21, S/N 3830 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II
- Registry model: [Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-g-103-twin-ii) (registry code 1660203) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 3830
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Nutmeg Soaring Association
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 1I5, Freehold, NY
- Destination: 1I5
- Airport: 1I5, Freehold Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: serious; private; last flight review July 1, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 1,433 total, 44 in this make and model, 70 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; private; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 308 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: ALB, 25 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 20071104829759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071104829759A), Nov 4, 2007: Grob G103ATWIN2, Green County, NY, Destroyed. (-23) During a routine pleasure flight, N46009 lost lift and crashed into a heavily wooded remote area. This was observed by hikers who notified the NY state…

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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