Burkhart Grob G-103-TWIN II accident near Jacumba, California, June 30, 1997
On June 30, 1997, a Burkhart Grob G-103-TWIN II (glider), registered N18AG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jacumba, California (Jacumba airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's abrupt rotation, which resulted in the breaking of the tow rope. A factor was the low altitude when the tow rope broke, precluding a landing on the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1997
- Place
- Jacumba, California · Jacumba · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G-103-TWIN II G-103-TWIN · all G-103-TWIN IIs on the register
- Registration
- N18AG · registry record · serial 3714
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider was being launched by a vehicle ground tow. About 250 feet agl, the tow row broke at the 'weak link.' The pilot reported that he might have been too aggressive during the rotation. He stated that he felt he was too far down the runway to land straight ahead, so he turned left intending to fly an abbreviated pattern. He stated that he lost altitude more rapidly than he had anticipated and could not complete the turn back to the runway. During the turn the glider descended and the left wing tip dragged through the vegetation. According to the pilot, the glider landed hard while skidding left and the main landing gear was sheared off.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 668 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L78
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,510 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from IPL, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.