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Accidents · NTSB CHI93LA334 · Final report

Burkhart Grob G103 accident near Hinckley, Illinois, August 22, 1993

On August 22, 1993 at about 4:10 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G103 (glider), registered N422BG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hinckley, Illinois (Hinckley airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

the failure of the cockpit canopy.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
August 22, 1993 · about 4:10 pm local time · cases in 1993
Place
Hinckley, Illinois · Hinckley · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Burkhart Grob G103 · all G103s on the register
Registration
N422BG · registry record · serial 3711
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD CRACK AND SOMETHING STRUCK HIM IN THE FACE AND KNOCKED HIS GLASSES OFF. HE THEN NOTICED THAT THE COCKPIT CANOPY WAS BROKEN AND OPEN, AND THAT THE NOSE OF THE SAILPLANE WAS LOW. HE PULLED THE NOSE UP JUST AS THE SAILPLANE LANDED HARD. A NEARBY WITNESS REPORTED SEEING SOMETHING FLY OFF THE SAILPLANE JUST BEFORE THE HARD LANDING. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION FAILED TO DISCOVER WHY THE CANOPY BROKE/OPENED.

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: 15 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: None
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,190 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 1993; 60 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,279 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 27, 2,600 ft by 300 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
  • Visibility: 15 statute miles
  • Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
  • Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

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Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI93LA334.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.