Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G109 accident near Emigrant Gap, California, September 9, 2016
On September 9, 2016 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1982 Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G109 (glider), registered N909G, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Emigrant Gap, California (Blue Canyon - Nyack 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inappropriate decision to continue the flight into higher elevation under high-density altitude conditions, which degraded the glider's climb performance and resulted in impact with trees short of the intended runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2016 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Emigrant Gap, California · Blue Canyon - Nyack · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G109 UNDESIGNAT, built 1982 · all G109s on the register
- Registration
- N909G · no longer on the register · serial 6134
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a powered glider reported that while en-route to his planned destination, he became concerned about the glider's capability, even with the engine operating, to clear rising terrain ahead. The pilot further reported that he was advised by air traffic control that the nearest airport was about 5 nautical miles (NM) ahead and along his route. The pilot decided to continue to this airport, even though lower terrain was available behind him. During the diversion into the higher elevation, the pilot reported that the glider was "low over the terrain" and he determined that he had to make an off-airport landing. Subsequently, the pilot landed the glider into trees about ½ NM from the diversion airport. The right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the powered glider that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident, at the diversion airport, an automated weather observing system reported the wind at 240 degrees true at 7 knots, a temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 Celsius), and a dew point of 43 degrees Fahrenheit (6 Celsius). The airport's elevation was 5,283 feet above mean sea level (MSL) and the density altitude was 7,563 feet above MSL. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Koch Chart, the powered glider would have experienced a 62% decrease to the normal rate of climb. The high density altitude likely contributed to the glider's inability to clear the trees en-route to the diversion airport.
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during enroute
- Loss of lift during enroute defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during enroute
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Decision related to condition
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,330 hours in all; 796 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 2,016 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 21, 2016
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,095 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,830 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Limbach 2000 (piston); 1,095 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHM Lincoln CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: MEV Minden NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from KBLU, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA16CA489.