- Date
- October 12, 1985, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Franconia, NH
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Uncontrolled descent
- Aircraft
- N4944GBurkhart Grob 103
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 30161
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
In flight collision with object
Terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
In-flight planning/decision - improperCause
Light condition - daylight
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequateCause
Object - tree(s)Factor
Analysis
The pilot flying a grob 103 was engaged in ridge soaring when the aircraft encountered down or sinking air. The aircraft was unable to recover prior to striking trees. The aircraft received substantial damage and the pilot received serious injuries while the passenger received minor injuries.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4944G
- Reported as
- Burkhart Grob 103
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 3850-K-96
- Airframe hours
- 200
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- New England Soaring Assoc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1985 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- Franconia, NH
N4944GRegistration cancelled Oct 28, 2013 · Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN IIAirframe modelBurkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 420 total · 20 in this make and model · 8 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point -0 °F