Burkhart Grob G103 TWIN ASTIR accident near Hemet, California, April 17, 1985
On April 17, 1985 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G103 TWIN ASTIR (glider), registered N20HS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hemet, California (Hemet-Ryan 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1985 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hemet, California · Hemet-Ryan
- 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 G103 TWIN · all G103 TWIN ASTIRs on the register
- Registration
- N20HS · registry record · serial 3860-K-106
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE GLIDER NEAR THE RWY THRESHOLD IN ORDER TO BE READY FOR AN IMMEDIATE RELAUNCH. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF VEGETATION, LOCATED ALONG THE EDGE OF THE RWY, BUT SAID THAT HE MISJUDGED ITS HEIGHT. THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE VEGETATION DURING THE LANDING FLARE CAUSING THE GLIDER TO VEER TO THE RIGHT WHILE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE GLIDER CAME TO REST ABOUT 10 FT BEYOND THE THRESHOLD AT A 60 DEG ANGLE TO THE RWY CENTERLINE & WITH THE TAIL CONE SEPARATED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 896 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 836 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 337 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 13, 1984; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sailplane Enterprises
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,045 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°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.