Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II accident near Llano, California, December 3, 2005
On December 3, 2005 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II (glider), registered N4601M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Llano, California. It was an other work-use 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 flight's encounter with downdrafts. A contributing factor was the unsuitable vegetation-covered mountainous terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 2005 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Llano, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II · all G 103 Twin IIs on the register
- Registration
- N4601M · registry record · serial 3831
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After encountering downdrafts, the glider was damaged when the pilot landed on unsuitable brush-covered mountainous terrain. The commercial pilot had planned to take the fare-paying passenger on a 45-minute-long sightseeing ride. Downdrafts were encountered after soaring for nearly 30 minutes. The pilot was unable to cross over a mountain ridge and to get to the airport. The pilot landed on the brush covered mountainside in an uphill direction and at minimum speed.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 261 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 162 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,279 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 46CN Llano CA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: 46CN Llano CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.