Burkhart Grob G-103 accident near Tehachapi, California, December 11, 1994
On December 11, 1994 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G-103 (glider), registered N3950A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tehachapi, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's poor in-flight planning/decision and inadequate airspeed. The downdraft and trees were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 1994 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tehachapi, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G-103 · all G-103s on the register
- Registration
- N3950A · registry record · serial 3793
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID IN A POSTACCIDENT TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THAT HE WAS RIDGE SOARING ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE TREES ALONG A SOUTHEAST/NORTHWESTERLY COURSE. THE PILOT SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED ONE PASS OVER THE RIDGE LINE. ON THE SECOND PASS, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT. THE GLIDER'S AIRSPEED WAS INSUFFICIENT TO CLIMB OUT OF THE IMPENDING TREE LINE AND THE GLIDER'S RIGHT WING STRUCK A TREE. THE PILOT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE GLIDER AND LANDED AT THE AIRPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,037 hours in all; 520 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 5,980 as pilot in command; 2,060 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,097 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 29, 1994; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,279 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.