Burkhart Grob G103 accident near Ionia, Michigan, June 26, 1993
On June 26, 1993 at about 7:07 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G103 (glider), registered N4101M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ionia, Michigan (Ionia County 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1993 · about 7:07 pm local time
- Place
- Ionia, Michigan · Ionia County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G103 · all G103s on the register
- Registration
- N4101M · registry record · serial 3796
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE MAKING A SHORT LANDING TO AVOID ANOTHER GLIDER ON THE RUNWAY AHEAD, THE PILOT TOUCHED DOWN JUST SHORT OF THE MOWED GRASS STRIP. LANDING IN THE TALL GRASS ON THE WET, SOFT GROUND, THE LEFT WING TIP WENT DOWN, AND THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT. WHILE GROUND LOOPING, THE FUSELAGE WAS DAMAGED JUST FORWARD OF THE VERTICAL FIN.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 452 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 335 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,467 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1993; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,279 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: B & N Leasing CO.
The flight
- Departed from: Y70 at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 21 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from GRR, 21 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N4101M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.