Burkhart Grob G102 STD ASTIR III accident near Faribault, Minnesota, July 29, 2001
On July 29, 2001 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G102 STD ASTIR III (glider), registered N3837U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Faribault, Minnesota (Faribault Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing which resulted in a stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2001 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Faribault, Minnesota · Faribault Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G102 STD ASTIR III
- Registration
- N3837U · no longer on the register · serial 5576S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider sustained substantial damage while landing when the left wing and fuselage impacted terrain. The pilot sustained serious injuries. A police report stated, "[The pilot] said while he was turning, he forgot to monitor his air speed and the glider fell below the minimum speed, which caused his left wing to stall. [The pilot] said his left wing hit the ground during the turn and caused the glider to somersault onto the gliders belly and spin. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. The wind was 160 degrees at 7 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 515 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 382 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 6, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 578 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 21, 2000; 9.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 990 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: FBL Faribault MN at 8:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,230 ft by 140 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 8:57 pm from FBL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.