Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB accident near Marion, Ohio, August 5, 2017
On August 5, 2017 at about 5:50 pm local time, a 1985 Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB (glider), registered N102BK, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Marion, Ohio (Marion Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to follow the before takeoff checklist, which resulted in an improper takeoff configuration and subsequent uncontrolled descent into terrain during a departure climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2017 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Marion, Ohio · Marion Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB, built 1985 · all G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIBs on the register
- Registration
- N102BK · no longer on the register · serial 5622CB
- 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 glider stated that he made a mistake during his before takeoff checks and forgot to latch the canopy. During takeoff and climb, he heard air noise in the cabin and attempted to check the canopy handle while still under tow. He stated that, after climbing a "few hundred feet," the canopy came open. While he was trying to close the canopy, he lost sight of the tow airplane, so he released the tow line and made a turn to the right. A witness reported that the glider's left and right wing spoilers were extended during the flight and were visible from the ground. The glider pilot released from the tow airplane around 150 to 200 ft above ground level (agl) and tried to make a 180° turn back to the runway with the spoilers still extended. The glider's wing clipped a tree and crashed in a bean field. The examination of the glider at the accident site revealed that the spoilers were found in the open, or deployed, position. With the spoilers deployed, the glider and tow airplane would be unable to climb normally. The canopy attachment pins and the surrounding composite material were torn from the fuselage at impact. The canopy attachment handle and bayonet pins showed proper operation. The damage to the canopy was consistent with it being in the latched position at impact. The pilot stated that the glider had no mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Glider tow event during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Spoilers › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 24,000 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 19,000 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,336.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 992 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: MNN Marion OH at 6:13 pm
- Destination: MNN Marion OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,498 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from MNN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N102BK the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 CEN17LA305.