Burkhart Grob G103 TWIN ASTIR accident near Unionville, Pennsylvania, July 5, 2002
On July 5, 2002 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G103 TWIN ASTIR (glider), registered N4446W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Unionville, Pennsylvania (Ridge Soaring Glideport 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 evasive maneuver to avoid a collision with a departing airplane, which resulted in a landing short of the runway. A factor was the pilot's decision to land on the runway opposite the one in use.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2002 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Unionville, Pennsylvania · Ridge Soaring Glideport · 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 ASTIR · all G103 TWIN ASTIRs on the register
- Registration
- N4446W · registry record · serial 3822-K-81
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on a left downwind for runway 07, the glider pilot saw a tow plane and glider departing runway 25. The pilot had elected to land on runway 07 because it was the runway he had used to depart earlier, but the winds had changed and the runway in use at the time was runway 25. When he turned on to final approach, the pilot realized he was getting close to the tow plane, and ducked under it to avoid a collision. The glider landed short of the runway, into a field with crops, and subsequently went into a ditch.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all
- Last flight review: May 8, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 79N Unionville PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 3,325 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 5:47 pm from UNV, 4 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.
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.