Burkhart Grob G-102 accident near Moriarty, New Mexico, June 19, 1988
On June 19, 1988 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G-102 (glider), registered N143SS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moriarty, New Mexico (Moriarty 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1988 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Moriarty, New Mexico · Moriarty · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G-102
- Registration
- N143SS · registry record · serial 1370
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT GLIDER PLT WAS COMPLETING A FIVE HR ENDURANCE FLIGHT. DURING THE TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL, THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED A 15 KT XWIND AND OVERSHOT THE TURN. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO 'BUTTONHOOK' BACK TOWARD THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT. WITNESSES STATED THAT DURING LANDING ON A GRAVEL RWY, PARALLEL TO AND BESIDE RWY 26, THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. THE GLIDER THEN GROUNDLOOPED. THE PILOT SAID THAT FATIGUE MAY HAVE AFFECTED HIS ABILITY TO CONTROL THE GLIDER DURING LANDING.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 176 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 149 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 434 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 1988; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 990 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0E0 at 6:46 pm
- Destination: 0E0
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:45 pm
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.