- Date
- June 2, 1990, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place
- Barre, MA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3836HBurkhart Grob G103
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 12, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900602017969A
- Case key
- 36657
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The premature commanded tow release by the towplane pilot over unsuitable terrain.
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.
Analysis
During climb out with the glider in tow, the towplane lost engine power and the pilot signaled for an emergency glider release at 200 feet AGL. The altitude was too low for the glider to return to the airport or reach suitable terrain. The glider collided with trees. Engine power to the towplane increased after the glider release. The towplane continued flight and returned to the airport and landed without further incident. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3836H
- Reported as
- Burkhart Grob G103
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 3836
- Airframe hours
- 1,364
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- New Eng.Soaring Assoc.,Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 4, 1989 · 23 hours before
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
- 63
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 925 total · 142 in this make and model · 854 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.