Burkhart Grob 109 accident near Finleyville, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1983
On June 5, 1983 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob 109 (glider), registered N903BG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Finleyville, Pennsylvania (Findleyville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1983 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Finleyville, Pennsylvania · Findleyville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob 109
- Registration
- N903BG · registry record · serial 6095
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE MOTORIZED GLIDER COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THE TERRAIN DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER THE PROP HAD STRUCK THE GROUND DURING TAKEOFF. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE PROPELLER 1ST COLLIDED WITH HIGH GRASS AND THEN A BUMP IN THE GROUND AFTER THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND VEERED OFF THE MOWED RUNWAY. THE TAKEOFF WAS CONTINUED AND AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT WAS TURNED DOWNWIND FOR A LANDING. THE PROPELLER VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY AS THE TURN WAS MADE AND THE PILOT SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND FEATHERED THE PROP AT ABOUT 100 FEET AGL WHILE OVER THE HANGERS. WHILE LINING UP WITH THE RUNWAY THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES WHICH STALLED THE GLIDER AND IT NOSED INTO 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 573 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 505 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 74 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, December 13, 1982; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Limbach L-2000EB1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.