Burkhart Grob G-103A Twin II Acro accident near Minden, Nevada, September 12, 2006
On September 12, 2006 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G-103A Twin II Acro (glider), registered N790G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minden, Nevada (Douglas County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate pre-takeoff checks by the flightcrew that failed to detect that the spoilers were deployed during the takeoff and initial climb. Also causal was the inadequate supervision of the flight by the flight instructor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2006 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Minden, Nevada · Douglas County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G-103A Twin II Acro · all G-103A Twin II Acros on the register
- Registration
- N790G · no longer on the register · serial 33987-K-220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The local area instructional glider flight departed from the runway with the aid of a tow airplane. At 50 feet agl, the tow pilot observed the glider's spoilers were in a deployed configuration. He signaled (wag the rudder) the pilots to check the spoilers. The glider then moved to the left, causing a strain on the tow rope. The tow pilot said that the glider pilot then terminated the tow about 120 feet agl as the glider was turning back to the runway. Prior to crossing the airport perimeter fence, one of the glider's wings struck a telephone pole. The glider cartwheeled, and came to rest upright on airport property.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Last flight review: January 1, 2006
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 10 hours in all
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,677 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,279 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: MEV Minden NV at 8:20 pm
- Destination: MEV Minden NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 7,400 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from TVL, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.