Burkhart Grob G103 Twin Astir accident near Wellington, Ohio, June 11, 2005
On June 11, 2005 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G103 Twin Astir (glider), registered N3872G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wellington, Ohio (Reader-Botsford 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 misjudgment of distance and altitude which resulted in an undershoot of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2005 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Wellington, Ohio · Reader-Botsford Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G103 Twin Astir · all G103 Twin Astirs on the register
- Registration
- N3872G · no longer on the register · serial 3777
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider was towed to 3,000 feet msl, and soared uneventfully over the local area. At 1,700 feet, the pilot entered a left downwind leg runway 36; a 2,850-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, turf runway. The glider was too low on the downwind leg, and the pilot flew a tighter traffic pattern to correct for the low altitude. As the glider turned onto a left base leg, the pilot reported that it encountered a downdraft and possible headwind. The glider remained too low and struck trees on the final approach to 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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 675 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 525 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 67D Wellington OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,850 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N3872G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.