Burkhart Grob 109B accident near Gregory, Michigan, November 15, 1986
On November 15, 1986 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob 109B (glider), registered N58287, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gregory, Michigan (Richmond Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 1986 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Gregory, Michigan · Richmond Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob 109B
- Registration
- N58287 · registry record · serial 6317
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED TWICE, SO THE PILOT DECIDED TO GO AROUND AND MAKE A SECOND ATTEMPT. ON CLIMB OUT, THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK 65 FT TALL TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT LANDED WITH A TAIL WIND AND DID NOT CHANGE THE PROPELLER PITCH POSITION FROM A CRUISE TO A CLIMB SETTING. THE RUNWAY HAD A DISPLACED THRESHOLD GIVING IT ONLY 1800 FEET OF USABLE SPACE FOR THE LANDING AND GO-AROUND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,726 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 165 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 400 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 1, 1986; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 775 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Grob 2500E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YIP Ypsilanti MI at 3:50 pm
- Destination: Y70 Ionia MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; not recorded at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:20 pm from JXN, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.