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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 1993 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Hinckley, Illinois · Hinckley · 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
| 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.