Burkhart Grob G-102 accident near Maricopa, Arizona, July 15, 1989
On July 15, 1989 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G-102 (glider), registered N925G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Maricopa, Arizona (Estrella Sailport 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 INABILITY TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. ALSO CAUSAL TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPENING OF THE CANOPY FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1989 · about 10:00 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Maricopa, Arizona · Estrella Sailport · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G-102
- Registration
- N925G · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER HAD JUST DEPARTED THE GLIDER PORT BEHIND A TOW PLANE. AT 200 FEET AGL, THE CANOPY SNAPPED OPEN AND THE TOW ROPE BROKE. THE PILOT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN AND LANDED HARD ON THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THE CANOPY WAS CLOSED AND LOCKED BEFORE HE STARTED THE TAKEOFF ROLL. AN FAA INSPECTOR INSPECTED THE CANOPY AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LOCKING MECHANISM.
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: 80 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 55 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E68 at 9:59 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N925G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N925G on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Burkhart Grob 99 aircraft on the register
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Estrella Sailport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 468 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,431 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N925G 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX89LA245.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.