Burkhart Grob 109A accident near Waukesha, Wisconsin, September 26, 1990
On September 26, 1990 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob 109A, registered N912G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waukesha, Wisconsin (Capital Drive airport). It was an instructional 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE AND VISUAL LOOKOUT FOR THE MOVING TRACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1990 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Waukesha, Wisconsin · Capital Drive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob 109A
- Registration
- N912G · no longer on the register · serial 6143
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS LANDING TO THE NORTH AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT WHEN THE LEFT WING OF THE MOTOR GLIDER AIRPLANE HE WAS FLYING STRUCK A TRACTOR TYPE LAWM MOWER. HE SAID THAT WHEN HE INITIALLY SAW THE MOWER IT WAS ABOUT 80 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY. THE NEXT TIME THAT HE SAW IT, IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY'S LEFT EDGE. THE OPERATOR OF THE MOWER SAID THAT HE WAS DRIVING THE MOWER ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WITH HIS BACK TO THE APPROACHING AIRPLANE. HE DID NOT SEE OR HEAR THE AIRPLANE UNTIL IT HIT THE MOWER.
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: student
- Flight time: 87 hours in all; 76 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,820 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Limbach L2000EB1M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HXF Hartford WI at 7:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,500 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.