# NTSB WPR10CA288: Burkhart Grob G103C Twin III Acro, N41KP, Minden, NV, June 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 11, 2010, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Minden, NV - Coordinates: 39.919998, -119.857223 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9200&lon=-119.8572&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 76301 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA288 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76301/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76301 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA288 ## Probable cause The pilot's encounter with an area of degraded lift during cruise flight, resulting in a forced off-airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=1660207), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=1660207), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=1660207), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1660207), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that during cruise flight in the glider he encountered significant sinking air that prevented him from being able to make his destination glider port. He elected to make an off-field landing into a field. During the landing roll, the left wing contacted the ground and turned the glider to the left. During the turn, the glider's tail assembly separated from the fuselage. There was substantial damage to the tail structure. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that during cruise flight in the glider he encountered significant sinking air that prevented him from being able to make his destination glider port. He elected to make an off-field landing into a field. During the landing roll, the left wing contacted the ground and turned the glider to the left. During the turn, the glider's tail assembly separated from the fuselage. There was substantial damage to the tail structure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41KP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41KP), registered now, S/N 34176, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BURKHART GROB G103C TWIN III ACRO - Registry model: [Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-g103c-twin-iii-acro) (registry code 1660207) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 34176 - Airframe hours: 1069 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Northern California Soaring Association - Registered owner: Northern California Soaring Association - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 2010 - Departed: Flanagan Dry Lk, NV - Destination: Minden, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 14, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 2,800 total, 45 in this make and model, 2,637 as pilot in command, 194 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 15 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 28 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 20100611036239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100611036239A), Jun 11, 2010: Burkhart Gr G103C TWIN, Sutcliffe, NV, Substantial damage. Subsequent to takeoff from a dry lake bed with an aero tow, the pilot intentionally released at about 1500 feet AGL. The pilot stated that he was unable to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76301. 618 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 618 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331722&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.