Burkhart Grob G103 accident near Fremont, California, September 26, 1991
On September 26, 1991 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G103 (glider), registered N4113G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fremont, California (Sky Soaring 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 FAILED TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE PREVAILING WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1991 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Fremont, California · Sky Soaring · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G103 · all G103s on the register
- Registration
- N4113G · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT. HE STATED HE MADE A NORMAL PATTERN ENTRY AND TURNED BASE AT THE STANDARD 45 DEGREE POINT. ON BASE, HE OPENED THE SPOILERS ABOUT 20%. AS HE TURNED FINAL AND LINED UP WITH THE RUNWAY, HE SAID HE COULD SEE THAT HIS GLIDE SLOPE WOULD TAKE HIM BEYOND THE WHITE LINE, AND WAS EXPECTING TO ADD MORE SPOILERS AS HE GOT CLOSER. THIS CHANGED ABRUPTLY, AS HE WAS CAUGHT IN A DOWNWASH CAUSED BY BUILDINGS ON THE APPROACH PATH. CLOSING THE DIVE BRAKES WAS OF LITTLE HELP. REALIZING HE COULD NOT MAKE THE ALTITUDE BACK, HE TURNED APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AND LANDED IN A SMALL ROUGH FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE RIGHT WING CAUGHT AND THE SAILPLANE GROUNDLOOPED.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 1,900 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 25 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.