Grob G102 accident near Midlothian, Texas, July 30, 2020
On July 30, 2020 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1983 Grob G102 (glider), registered N3981A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Midlothian, Texas (Mid-Way Regional airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The unstabilized landing approach in gusty wind conditions that resulted in a hard, bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2020 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Midlothian, Texas · Mid-Way Regional · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grob G102 Club Astir, built 1983
- Registration
- N3981A · registry record · serial 5610CB
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that the airspeed was too fast on final approach and the glider landed hard and bounced several times before it came to a stop. The glider sustained substantial damage to the front and rear bottom of the fuselage and rudder. The pilot landed the glider on runway 36 with wind gusts to 18 knots.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 838 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: JWY Midlothian TX
- Destination: JWY Midlothian TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 6,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 88°F (31°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from JWY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Scuff mark on nose and cracked fiberglass on left side (FAA photo)
Photo 2 – Cracked fiberglass on right side of nose (FAA photo)
Photo 3 – Tail cone and rudder damage (FAA photo)
Photo 4 – Tail cone and rudder damage (FAA photo)
Photo 5 – Tail cone and rudder damage (FAA photo)
Photo 6 – The cockpit (FAA photo)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 2, 2021. 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 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Report Photographs | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3981A on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Mid-Way Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,064 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,966 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN20CA324.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.