SEA06LA163

NTSB accident investigation · Burkhart Grob G-103A · North Plains, OR · August 19, 2006

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 19, 2006, 13:40 local (20:40 UTC)
Place
North Plains, OR
Injuries
1 minor, 2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N103MGBurkhart Grob G-103AN75HMPiper PA-25-235
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 26, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
Case key
64359

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The glider pilot's misjudgment of distance/speed during approach, which resulted in excessive speed at touchdown, and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. A contributing factor was the glider pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of glider being flown.

The glider pilot's misjudgment of distance/speed during approach, which resulted in excessive speed at touchdown, and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. A contributing factor was the glider pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of glider being flown.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Lack of total experience in type of aircraftPilot in commandFactor
Distance/speed - misjudgedPilot in commandCause
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Landing - roll
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Standing - engine(s) operating
Distance/speed - misjudgedPilot of other aircraftCause
Lack of total experience in type of aircraftPilot of other aircraftFactor
Directional control - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

The glider was observed to be high and fast on its landing approach. After touchdown, the glider bounced and then continued down the runway at a higher than normal speed. As the glider approached and went past the stop line, it started to turn to the right. The glider pilot attempted to steer between a tow airplane that was stopped off the runway and the glider parked behind it, but was unable to maintain directional control. The glider continued to turn right and collided with the tow airplane. The glider pilot reported that he had 35.8 hours total time of which 31.6 hours were in gliders and 5.1 hours were in the make and model of glider being flown.

The glider was observed to be high and fast on its landing approach. After touchdown, the glider bounced and then continued down the runway at a higher than normal speed. As the glider approached and went past the stop line, it started to turn to the right. The glider pilot attempted to steer between a tow airplane that was stopped off the runway and the glider parked behind it, but was unable to maintain directional control. The glider continued to turn right and collided with the tow airplane. The glider pilot reported that he had 35.8 hours total time of which 31.6 hours were in gliders and 5.1 hours were in the make and model of glider being flown.

Factual narrative

On August 19, 2006, about 1340 Pacific daylight time, a Burkhart Grob G-103A glider, N103MG, collided with a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N75HM, on the ground at North Plains Gliderport, North Plains, Oregon. The glider was on its landing roll, and the airplane was standing with its engine operating when the collision occurred. The private pilot of the glider sustained minor injuries and his passenger was not injured. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage. The glider was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was registered to and operated by the Willamette Valley Soaring Club, Inc., under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans were filed for either aircraft. The glider was landing following a local personal flight, and the airplane was waiting to takeoff for a glider tow.

According to a witness, the glider landed to the west and was moving "fast" when its right wing dipped to the ground, and it ground looped to the right. The glider rolled directly into the airplane, which was stopped off the north side of the runway. Another witness stated that the glider was high and fast on its approach. After touchdown, the glider appeared to bounce and then continued down the runway "rolling fast and swerving out of control." The glider went past the cones marking the stop line, "looped north," struck the airplane and came to rest wedged under the airplane's right wing.

The glider pilot reported that on short final he noticed his "speed was fast at 60 KIAS." After touching down at 55 KIAS, he "pushed the nose down to engage the skid." However, the glider he was flying had a nose wheel, not a skid. When the pilot realized the glider had a nose wheel, he raised the nose back to level, and the glider hit a bump and briefly became airborne. At this point, the pilot noted that the glider "did not appear to be slowing fast enough." As the glider approached the stop line, it started to turn to the left, and he corrected to the right. He decided to steer between the tow airplane and the glider parked behind it, but "the wing was too slow to be controlled." The glider continued to turn right and collided with the tow airplane. Both canopies of the glider were shattered, and its right wing sustained structural damage. The glider pilot reported that he had 35.8 hours total time of which 31.6 hours were in gliders and 5.1 hours were in the make and model of glider being flown.

The pilot of the airplane reported that he observed the glider on its base leg and noted that it was "excessively high and fast." The glider touched down, became airborne, and then touched down again. As it rolled down the runway, the steering of the glider was "very erratic." The glider started turning right, and the pilot thought it might be headed between his airplane and the glider behind him, so he started to move forward. However, within seconds, the glider made a "sharp right turn" and headed directly towards him. He stopped, shutdown the airplane's engine, and was exiting the airplane's left door when the glider struck its right side. The right wing and belly of the airplane sustained structural damage.

On August 19, 2006, about 1340 Pacific daylight time, a Burkhart Grob G-103A glider, N103MG, collided with a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N75HM, on the ground at North Plains Gliderport, North Plains, Oregon. The glider was on its landing roll, and the airplane was standing with its engine operating when the collision occurred. The private pilot of the glider sustained minor injuries and his passenger was not injured. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage. The glider was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was registered to and operated by the Willamette Valley Soaring Club, Inc., under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans were filed for either aircraft. The glider was landing following a local personal flight, and the airplane was waiting to takeoff for a glider tow.

According to a witness, the glider landed to the west and was moving "fast" when its right wing dipped to the ground, and it ground looped to the right. The glider rolled directly into the airplane, which was stopped off the north side of the runway. Another witness stated that the glider was high and fast on its approach. After touchdown, the glider appeared to bounce and then continued down the runway "rolling fast and swerving out of control." The glider went past the cones marking the stop line, "looped north," struck the airplane and came to rest wedged under the airplane's right wing.

The glider pilot reported that on short final he noticed his "speed was fast at 60 KIAS." After touching down at 55 KIAS, he "pushed the nose down to engage the skid." However, the glider he was flying had a nose wheel, not a skid. When the pilot realized the glider had a nose wheel, he raised the nose back to level, and the glider hit a bump and briefly became airborne. At this point, the pilot noted that the glider "did not appear to be slowing fast enough." As the glider approached the stop line, it started to turn to the left, and he corrected to the right. He decided to steer between the tow airplane and the glider parked behind it, but "the wing was too slow to be controlled." The glider continued to turn right and collided with the tow airplane. Both canopies of the glider were shattered, and its right wing sustained structural damage. The glider pilot reported that he had 35.8 hours total time of which 31.6 hours were in gliders and 5.1 hours were in the make and model of glider being flown.

The pilot of the airplane reported that he observed the glider on its base leg and noted that it was "excessively high and fast." The glider touched down, became airborne, and then touched down again. As it rolled down the runway, the steering of the glider was "very erratic." The glider started turning right, and the pilot thought it might be headed between his airplane and the glider behind him, so he started to move forward. However, within seconds, the glider made a "sharp right turn" and headed directly towards him. He stopped, shutdown the airplane's engine, and was exiting the airplane's left door when the glider struck its right side. The right wing and belly of the airplane sustained structural damage.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N103MG
Reported as
Burkhart Grob G-103A
Category
Glider
Serial number
33983-K-216
Airframe hours
10,345
Engine
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · August 1, 2005
Departed
10R4 · North Plains, OR
Destination
10R4
Airport
10R4 · North Plains Gliderport, runway 26L, 2,000 × 200 ft, grass/turf

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.

Registration
N75HM
Reported as
Piper PA-25-235
Category
Airplane
Serial number
257556182
Engine
Lycoming O-540, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Glider tow · Part 91
Registered owner
Williamette Valley Soaring Club, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
10R4 · North Plains, OR
Destination
10R4
Airport
10R4 · North Plains Gliderport

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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N103MG
Age
50
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Last flight review
August 1, 2005
Seat
Front
Flight hours
36 total · 5 in this make and model · 13 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Role
Pilot, aircraft N75HM
Age
53
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2
Last flight review
September 1, 2005
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
10,000 total · 200 in this make and model · 9,000 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 33 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
50° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
29.93 inHg
Observed at
HIO, 5 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.