Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB accident near Highland, Illinois, August 24, 2025
On August 24, 2025 at about 5:50 pm local time, a 1981 Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB (glider), registered N424BG, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Highland, Illinois (Highland-Winet airport). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff which resulted in a collision with a parked vehicle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2025 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Highland, Illinois · Highland-Winet · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB, built 1981 · all G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIBs on the register
- Registration
- N424BG · registry record · serial 5548CB
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the glider was preparing to take off and was connected to a tow airplane. As the tow began, the glider began to drift to the left due to a crosswind, and the glider moved out of position behind the towplane. As the tow progressed the glider’s left wing dropped to the ground, and the glider began to ground loop. The pilot released from the towplane and the right wing of the glider struck a parked golf cart. The glider received substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the glider that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 58 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 58 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 14, 2024
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 836 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: St Louis Soaring Association INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18/3, 2,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from KBLV, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBLV 241755Z AUTO 31013KT 10SM FEW045 26/14 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP172 T02590140 10259 20154 58009=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N424BG 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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 CEN25LA340.