# NTSB WPR21LA290: Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II, N4446Y, Levan, UT, July 25, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 25, 2021, 15:38 local (21:38 UTC)
- Place: Levan, UT
- Coordinates: 41.554306, -112.06225 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5543&lon=-112.0623&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103567
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA290
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103567/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103567
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA290

## Probable cause

The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight which resulted in an off-airport landing and a collision with a fence.

## 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 · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=1660203), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=1660203), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1660203), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=1660203), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1660203), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the flight, the glider encountered insufficient lift to maintain flight and he decided to land off airport. He performed a high recon of the area and selected a landing site on the north side of a local reservoir, along the shoreline. While on downwind for the intended landing area, he did not see any obstacles, and performed a teardrop turn to final. The glider touched down in the approximate area he intended to, however, during landing roll, the glider collided with a barbed wire fence and sustained substantial damage to the right wing and the rear canopy. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4446Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4446Y), registered now, S/N 3825, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BURKHART GROB G 103 TWIN II
- Registry model: [Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-g-103-twin-ii) (registry code 1660203) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 3825
- Year built: 1983
- Airframe hours: 4091.2
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Utah Soaring Association
- Registered owner: Utah Soaring Association
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 2021
- Departed: U14, Nehi, UT
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 22, 2021; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,340 total, 504 in this make and model, 2,172 as pilot in command, 96 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 52; injuries: none; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 17 total, 17 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KOGD, 22 nm away
- METAR: KOGD 252253Z 32006KT 7SM CLR 35/00 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP095 T03500000

## 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 20210725011849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210725011849A), Jul 25, 2021: Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II, Levan, UT, Substantial damage. The glider departed nephi Utah (U14) on a local flight. The pilot reported good lift, and proceeded south. After reaching yuba reservoir state park the glider…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103567. 2.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12834836&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record -NTSB form 6120.1 unabridged pilot narrative (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12824444&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record -NTSB form 6120.1 unabridged pilot recommendations (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12825174&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_%20Pilot%20Recommendations-Rel.pdf
- Photographs (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12825449&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-Rel.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.

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