- Date
- September 21, 2013, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Morgan, UT
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N54554Grob G 103 Twin II
- Defining event
- Landing: Landing area undershoot
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 19, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20130921019659A
- Case key
- 88104
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An incorrect descent rate while on final approach as a result of the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which lead to an off-field landing and impact with terrain.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
When the student pilot realized his glider was high on final approach, he lowered the nose and deployed the spoilers, which increased the rate of descent and airspeed in excess of what was required. After the flight instructor had the student close the spoilers, the glider encountered turbulence and a sink rate that put them at a low approach altitude, about 150 feet above ground level. The flight instructor then took control and performed an off-airport landing. During the touchdown the glider impacted a large shrub bush with its right wing, slid sideways through a second bush, and then completed a 270-degree turn before coming to rest upright. The impact with the shrub resulted in substantial damage to the leading edge of the right wing. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
When the student pilot realized his altitude was high on final approach he lowered the nose and deployed the spoilers, which increased the rate of descent and airspeed in excess of what was required. After the flight instructor had the student close the spoilers, the glider encountered turbulence and a sink rate that put them at a low approach altitude, about 150 feet above ground level. The flight instructor then took control and performed an off-airport landing. During the touchdown the glider impacted a large shrub bush with its right wing, slid sideways through a second bush, and then completed a 270-degree turn before coming to rest upright. The impact with the shrub resulted in substantial damage to the leading edge of the right wing. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N54554
- Reported as
- Grob G 103 Twin II
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 3873-K-114
- Airframe hours
- 2,085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Daniel R Thirkill
- Registered owner
- Utah Soaring Association
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 3, 2013
- Departed
- 42U · Morgan, UT
- Destination
- 42U · Morgan, UT
- Airport
- 42U · Morgan County Airport, runway 21, 3,904 × 50 ft, asphalt
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
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Last flight review
- July 14, 2013
- Seat
- Rear
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 138 in this make and model
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 33
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 14 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.79 inHg
- Observed at
- OGD, 12 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.