# NTSB SEA98LA155: Burkhart Grob G102, N707NL, Douglas, WA, July 3, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 1998, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Douglas, WA - Coordinates: 47.690498, -119.880867 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6905&lon=-119.8809&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 11, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43712 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43712/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA155 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from objects on the ground. Factors include misjudgment of weather conditions (unfavorable winds). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather evaluation - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the accident occurred while he was making an off-airport landing. He attempted to land next to a road in a plowed field. The terrain was rolling wheat fields, alternately plowed and in use. He stated that he was circling a house, looking for lift, when he made the decision to land. He widened his circle and flew north, parallel to the road. There was no indication of high winds, and he didn't have to crab the aircraft to correct his track over the ground. He stated that he turned toward the road and as he passed the mid-point of his turn to the intended final approach, he realized that he was being carried into the power wires on the far side of the road. He was at wire height and in about a 45 degree bank. He didn't think he could get over the wires and didn't want to increase bank angle, so he flew under the wires at about a 30 degree angle to the road. The right wingtip struck the pole, spinning the glider. He said the glider came to a stop, with its tail pointed 180 degrees from the direction of travel in the edge of a wheat field. He noted that within 30 minutes a thunderstorm came through the area. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 1998, approximately 1400 Pacific daylight time, a Grob G102 glider, N707NL, registered to and operated by the Boeing Employees Soaring Club, Inc., and being flown by a commercial pilot, incurred substantial damage when one of the aircraft's wingtips struck a pole while landing, approximately 12 miles east of Douglas, Washington. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated as a round-robin glider flight from Ephrata, Washington. The pilot stated that the accident occurred while he was making an off-airport landing. He attempted to land next to a road in a plowed field. The terrain was rolling wheat fields, alternately plowed and in use. He stated that he was circling a house, looking for lift when he made the decision to land. He widened his circle and flew north, parallel to the road. There was no indication of high winds, and he didn't have to crab the aircraft to correct his track over the ground. He stated that he turned toward the road and as he passed the mid-point of his turn to the intended final approach, he realized that he was being carried into the power wires on the far side of the road. He was at wire height and in about a 45 degree bank. He didn't think he could get over the wires and didn't want to increase bank angle, so he flew under the wires at about a 30 degree angle to the road. The right wingtip struck the pole, spinning the glider. He said the glider came to a stop, with its tail pointed 180 degrees from the direction of travel in the edge of a wheat field. He noted that within 30 minutes, a thunderstorm came through the area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N707NL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N707NL-2010-03-23), registration cancelled 2010-03-23, S/N 1018, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Burkhart Grob G102 - Registry model: [Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 ASTIR CS](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-flugzeugbau-g102-astir-cs) (registry code 1660104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 1018 - Airframe hours: 1307 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Boeing Employees Soaring Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 1998, 19 hours before - Departed: EPH, EPHRATA, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 826 total, 50 in this make and model, 764 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MWH, 31 nm away ## 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 19980703035399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980703035399A), Jul 3, 1998: Grob G102ASTIR, Douglas, WA, Substantial damage. On July 3, 1998, at approximately 1400 PDT, Grob N707NL, piloted by commercial pilot, william allen was conductiing a round robin glider flight originating… 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.