Burkhart Grob BG 103 accident near Ionia, Michigan, May 20, 1994
On May 20, 1994 at about 4:57 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob BG 103 (glider), registered N140BG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ionia, Michigan. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
a hard landing as a result of the early disconnect of the glider launch/tow equipment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1994 · about 4:57 pm local time
- Place
- Ionia, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob BG 103
- Registration
- N140BG · registry record · serial 33902-K
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SIGHTSEEING GLIDER FLIGHT WAS BEING TOW LAUNCHED BY A PIPER CUB. AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 100 FEET AGL, THE TOW PLANE HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT OF THE TOW PLANE DISCONNECTED THE GLIDER AND MADE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD. THE GLIDER PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN THE SAME FIELD. THE GLIDER TOUCHED DOWN IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR. WHEN IT TOUCHED DOWN THE SECOND TIME THE TAIL HIT BEFORE THE LANDING GEAR.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 327 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 422 as pilot in command; 180 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,875 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 6, 1994; 8 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 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from LAN, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N140BG 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.