Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR accident near Huntsville, Utah, July 29, 2024
On July 29, 2024 at about 9:55 pm local time, a 1980 Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR (glider), registered N8485W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Huntsville, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to navigate in hazy conditions, which resulted in a forced landing in a field and a collision with a pole.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2024 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Huntsville, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 TWIN ASTIR, built 1980 · all G103 TWIN ASTIRs on the register
- Registration
- N8485W · registry record · serial 3290
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the unpowered glider reported that, he experienced “spatial disorientation” due to hazy conditions, and he inadvertently flew the glider in the wrong direction, which was farther away from his intended landing site. The pilot selected an open field as a forced landing site. During the forced landing, the right wing impacted a pole, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Haze/smoke › Ability to respond/compensate
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 55 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,435 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: 42U Morgan UT at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KOGD, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOGD 292153Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 34/00 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP084 T03390000
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 8, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC24LA071.