Burkhart Grob 103 accident near Byron, California, March 31, 1990
On March 31, 1990 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob 103 (glider), registered N3837J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Byron, California (Byron 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 INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT FOR OBJECTS ALONG THE LANDING RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 1990 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Byron, California · Byron · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob 103
- Registration
- N3837J · no longer on the register · serial 3762
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE GLIDER ENTERED A RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING. AFTER THE RIGHT TURN TO THE FINAL APPROACH THE PILOT ENTERED A 'SLIP' TO ACCELERATE THE DESCENT. WHEN THE GLIDER ENTERED THE FLARE PHASE OF LANDING, THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE ENGINE COWLING OF A TOW AIRCRAFT PARKED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 150 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 108 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,279 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ames Soaring Club, INC
The flight
- Departed from: 4Q5 at 10:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,800 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 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.
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.