# NTSB NYC95LA040: Burkhart Grob 103A, N858BG, Blairstown, NJ, December 4, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 4, 1994, 13:52 local (18:52 UTC) - Place: Blairstown, NJ - Location: 40.9711° N, 74.9975° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BLAIRSTOWN (1N7), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9711&lon=-74.9975&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38909 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38909/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA040 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the proper descent rate. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach ## Analysis THE GLIDER PILOT ENTERED THE DOWNWIND, WITH HIS ALTITUDE ABOUT 100 FT BELOW HIS DESIRED ALTITUDE. ON FINAL, HE ENCOUNTERED SOME LIFT AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE THE DESCENT. THE LIFT ALSO CAUSED THE GLIDER TO BECOME MISALIGNED WITH THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS FLYING FROM THE REAR SEAT WITH A PILOT RATED PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. HE HAD DIFFICULTY IN SEEING THE RUNWAY DUE TO THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. DURING THE REALIGNMENT, THE GLIDER STARTED TO SINK AND BY THE TIME THE PILOT REALIZED THIS, THE GLIDER WAS TOO LOW TO REACH THE RUNWAY. THE GLIDER BOUNCED OFF A SMALL RISE PRIOR TO THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT WING THEN STRUCK A SMALL TREE AND THE GLIDER TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN, WITH THE NOSE APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREE LEFT. ## Factual narrative On December 3, 1994, at 1352 eastern standard time, a Grob 103A glider, N858BG, operated by Eastern Mountain Soaring of Blairstown, New Jersey, struck trees while on approach to land at Blairstown Airport. The glider received substantial damage. The two occupants were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported this was the second flight of the day. Upon return to the airport, the glider encountered lift on final approach and initially, the glider was high. He had difficulity in getting realigned with the runway due to reduced visibility from a front seat passenger. While he concentrated on his runway lineup, the altitude decreased until the glider was too low to reach the runway. The glider fuselage wheel fuselage wheel struck the top of a hill and then the left wing struck a tree about 3 feet inboard from the tip. The glider yawed nose left and came to rest. The fuselage, aft of the cabin was bent and the left wing was damaged. The pilot reported he had a total time of 120 hours, and 59 hours in the Grob 103. He had a flight review in the first part of October and had not flown since the flight review. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N858BG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N858BG-2005-09-23), registration cancelled 2005-09-23, S/N 34016-K-248 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob 103A - Registry model: [Burkhart Grob G-103A TWIN II ACRO](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-g-103a-twin-ii-acro) (registry code 1660206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 34016-K-248 - Airframe hours: 1198 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Eastern Mountain Soaring - Registered owner: David M. Bloch - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, June 24, 1994, 84 hours before - Departed: 1N7 - Destination: 1N7, NJ - Airport: 1N7, Blairstown, runway 25, 3,100 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; medical: unknown; seat: rear; flight hours: 123 total, 25 in this make and model, 59 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 19941204040429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941204040429A), Dec 4, 1994: Grob G103ATWIN2, Blairstown, NJ, Substantial damage. Struck tree on final. View restricted by large passenger in front seat. Lacked recent flight time to carry persons. ## Other investigations on N858BG (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW04LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA190), Jul 17, 2004: Burkhart Grob G-103A Twin II Acro (N858BG), Caddo Mills, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The other pilot's inability to maintain directional control during landing roll as a result of the failure of the landing gear. 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.