# NTSB SEA07CA175: Burkhart Grob G102 Std Astir III, N123KG, Wickenburg, AZ, June 16, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 16, 2007, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Wickenburg, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.899906, -112.89981 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8999&lon=-112.8998&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66035
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA175
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66035/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA175

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions which resulted in an inflight collision with a cactus tree while landing.  The loss of thermal lift, tailwind, gusts, and tree were contributing factors to the accident.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - no thermal lift (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The glider pilot was conducting a cross-country flight.  Approximately 4 hours into the flight, the pilot experienced a loss of thermal lift.  He reversed course and attempted to land on an uncharted airstrip.  During the forced landing, wind gusts and a tailwind were present.  On final approach, "a strong gust/windshear" moved the glider to the right side of the runway.  The right wing impacted a cactus tree and sustained substantial damage.  The pilot said that there were no mechanical malfunctions.

## Factual narrative

The glider pilot was conducting a cross-country flight.  Approximately 4 hours into the flight, the pilot experienced a loss of thermal lift.  He reversed course and attempted to land on an uncharted airstrip.  During the forced landing, wind gusts and a tailwind were present.  On final approach, "a strong gust/windshear" moved the glider to the right side of the runway.  The right wing impacted a cactus tree and sustained substantial damage.  The pilot said that there were no mechanical malfunctions.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N123KG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N123KG), registered now, S/N 5556S, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G102 Std Astir III
- Registry model: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 STD ASTIR III](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-g102-std-astir-iii) (registry code 1660108) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 55565
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Christopher Aniol
- Registered owner: Willard, Aniol, Dickinson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 28A2, Aguila, AZ
- Destination: Camp Date Creek, AZ
- Airport: NONE, Camp Date Creek Airstrip

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; flight hours: 370 total, 250 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 15 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 106 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observed at: KLUF

## 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 20070616013279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070616013279A), Jun 16, 2007: Grob G102STDAST3, Wickenburg, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 16, 2007, the pilot [privacy data omitted] was completing a four hour cross-country flight in a Grob G102 sailplane, N123KG. At approximately…

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.

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