Burkhart Grob G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB accident near Minden, Nevada, April 29, 2007
On April 29, 2007 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB (glider), registered N851BG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minden, Nevada (Minden-Tahoe airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude that resulted in an undershoot of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2007 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Minden, Nevada · Minden-Tahoe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G102 CLUB ASTIR IIIB
- Registration
- N851BG · registry record · serial 5639 CB
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider landed 300 yards short of the airport and collided with low vegetation causing substantial damage. When the glider was on downwind, the pilot observed a glider on the runway preparing to depart. He decided to extend his downwind in order to avoid a collision and land instead on an adjacent taxiway. On final approach he realized he would not be able to reach the taxiway. The pilot stated that he had either extended the downwind leg too far, or had encountered sink. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures 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: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 164 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 80 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,092 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2006
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
- Operator: Soar Minden, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: MEV Minden NV at 10:12 pm
- Destination: MEV Minden NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12G, 2,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 19 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from MEV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N851BG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 LAX07CA149.