Burkhart Grob G102 ASTIR CS accident near Jean, Nevada, February 27, 1995
On February 27, 1995, a Burkhart Grob G102 ASTIR CS (glider), registered N57GE, was destroyed in an accident near Jean, Nevada (Jean airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's decision to fly in known adverse weather conditions which resulted in a wind shear encounter at low altitude during the takeoff initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 1995
- Place
- Jean, Nevada · Jean · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G102 ASTIR CS G102 ASTIR
- Registration
- N57GE · registry record · serial 1229
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTNING WERE OBSERVED WEST OF THE AIRPORT. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER ACHIEVED ABOUT 300 FEET AGL DURING THE TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 20 BY AUTO TOW. INSTEAD OF COMPLETING A NORMAL PITCH UP TO INCREASE ALTITUDE, THE PILOT RELEASED THE TOW LINE, FLEW TO THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY IN A DESCENT, AND WAS PERFORMING A 270-DEGREE LEFT TURN TO LAND ON A SHORT CROSSWIND RUNWAY WHEN THE LEFT WING TIP DRUG THE GROUND. THE GLIDER THEN CARTWHEELED. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS AWARE OF THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TO THE WEST OF THE RUNWAY, BUT ELECTED TO DO A SHORT FLIGHT. HE SAID THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE GLIDER ACHIEVED 300 FEET AGL WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED A SUDDEN DOWNWIND CONDITION. DURING THE ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE DURING THE TURN AND THE LEFT WING TIP INADVERTENTLY CONTACTED THE GROUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0L7
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 4,545 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from LAS, 23 miles away
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.