# NTSB NYC85LA171: Burkhart Grob G-109B, N44GF, Pittstown, NJ, July 13, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 13, 1985, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Pittstown, NJ
- Location: 40.6001° N, 75.0099° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from ALEXANDRIA (N85), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6001&lon=-75.0099&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35909
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85LA171
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35909/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA171

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - stall/mush - not corrected, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE APPROACH TO RUNWAY 08 WAS NORMAL, HOWEVER IT WAS LONG. ALTHOUGH THE APPROACH WAS NOT TOO LONG TO LAND, THE STUDENT APPLIED FULL POWER AND DECIDED TO GO AROUND. THE INS TRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER REALIZING THAT CLEARING THE TREES WOULD BE CLOSE. ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 10 FEET WEHN THE INSTRUCTOR TURNED THE AIRCRAFT TOWARD A CLEARER AREA. THIS ALTITUDE WAS BELOW THE TREE TOPS AHEAD. THE INSTRUCTOR RESET THE PROPELLER TO CLIMB PITCH IN CASE IT MAY HAVE GONE INTO CRUISE PITCH DURING THE GO AROUND. THEINSTRUCTOR CONTINUED THE GO AROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES WHEN IT COULD NO LONGER CLIMB ABOVE THE RISING TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N44GF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BURKHART GROB G-109B
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 6344
- Airframe hours: 30
- Engines: GROB 2500 reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Burkhart Grob,Inc.
- Registered owner: Posey Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 1985
- Departed: 9N1, PITTSTOWN, NJ
- Destination: N85, PITTSTOWN, NJ
- Airport: N85, Alexandria, runway 8, 2,112 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 3,661 total, 184 in this make and model, 3,566 as pilot in command, 167 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °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 19850713031179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850713031179A), Jul 13, 1985: Grob G109B, Pittstown, NJ, Destroyed. Struck trees during go around after aircraft seemed sluggish. Carb heat not used. Suspect propeller in cruise pitch

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.