Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir accident near Tucson, Arizona, November 15, 2006
On November 15, 2006 at about 9:37 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir (glider), registered N4115M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona (El Tiro Gliderport 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper use of the spoilers during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, and his inadequate bounced landing recovery technique.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 2006 · about 9:37 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · El Tiro Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir · all G103 Twin Astirs on the register
- Registration
- N4115M · registry record · serial 3799K
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider pilot reported he was attempting to land the glider further down the runway than usual. He stated he added 1/2 spoilers and flared about 10 feet above the runway. He retracted the spoilers, and added them again when he was further down, and about 5 feet above the runway. At the second spoiler application, the glider immediately fell to the runway, hitting hard and bouncing. The glider bounced another two or three times, coming to rest after the tail section separated. The pilot stated that there were no pre accident mechanical or flight control problems with the glider.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 63 hours in all; 38 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AZ67 Tucson AZ
- Destination: AZ67 Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08R, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from AVQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.