Burkhart Grob G103 TWIN II accident near Refugio, Texas, July 5, 1998
On July 5, 1998 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G103 TWIN II (glider), registered N103GG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Refugio, Texas (Rooke Field Airport). It was a personal flight 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
The pilot's inadvertent ground loop. A factor was the pilot's failure to follow procedures in securing the rear canopy, which resulted in the canopy opening in flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1998 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Refugio, Texas · Rooke Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G103 TWIN II G103 TWIN · all G103 TWIN IIs on the register
- Registration
- N103GG · no longer on the register · serial 33903
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff climb from runway 14, about 150 to 200 feet above the ground, the rear canopy of the glider opened. The pilot released the towline and attempted to return to the runway. During the ensuing landing, the glider 'ground looped,' striking its right wing on the ground. The pilot reported that he forgot to latch the canopy prior to takeoff.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 7,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 1,200 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RFG at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,275 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.