Burkhart Grob G103 TWIN II accident near Calistoga, California, October 4, 1986
On October 4, 1986 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G103 TWIN II (glider), registered N914G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Calistoga, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1986 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Calistoga, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G103 TWIN II G103 TWIN · all G103 TWIN IIs on the register
- Registration
- N914G · registry record · serial 3747
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT NEAR CLISTOGA, CLAIFORNIA, THE PILOT STATED THE NOSE OF HIS GLIDER WAS PUSHED DOWN WHILE ON BASE LEG AT CALISTAGA AIRPARK. DUE TO A LOSS IN ALTITUDE TO INCREASE AIRSPEED, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RUNWAY. A FORCED LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED IN A NEARBY PLOWED FIELD; HOWEVER, A ROW OF TREES WAS IN THE WAY WHICH THE PILOT THOUGHT HE COULD PORPOISE OVER. THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND STALLED INTO THE FIELD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD OBTAINED HIS WEATHER INFORMATION FROM OTHER PILOTS WHO WERE FLYING IN THE AREA.
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: 82 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 42 as pilot in command; 40 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,089 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1986; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,279 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Unknown UNK (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 058 Calistoga CA at 7:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 LAX87LA006.