Burkhart Grob A103 TWIN II accident near Sun City, Arizona, July 16, 1986
On July 16, 1986 at about 9:53 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob A103 TWIN II (glider), registered N5448E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sun City, Arizona (Pleasant Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- July 16, 1986 · about 9:53 pm local time
- Place
- Sun City, Arizona · Pleasant Valley
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob A103 TWIN II A103 TWIN
- Registration
- N5448E · no longer on the register · serial 3871-K-112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NEWLY CERTIFICATE SAILPLANED PILOT HAD TAKEN A FRIEND FOR A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. ON THE RETURN THE PILOT MADE A NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDING, THEN VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A LARGE SAGUARO CACTUS. THE CACTUS TOPPLED AND FELL ACROSS THE FRONT COCKPIT OF THE SAILPLANE, CRUSHING THE PILOT.
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: 46 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 794 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 8, 1986; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from PHX, 25 miles away
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.