Burkhart Grob FLUGZEUGBAU G103 accident near Julian, Pennsylvania, August 29, 1983
On August 29, 1983 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob FLUGZEUGBAU G103 (glider), registered N906BG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Julian, Pennsylvania (Ridge Soaring airport). 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 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
- August 29, 1983 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Julian, Pennsylvania · Ridge Soaring · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob FLUGZEUGBAU G103 FLUGZEUGBA
- Registration
- N906BG · registry record · serial 3604
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT & INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WERE PRACTICING PATTERN WORK & LANDINGS. DURING THE 1ST 3 PATTERNS, THE WIND WAS CALM, HOWEVER, BY THE TIME THEY WERE ON THEIR 4TH PATTERN, THE WIND INCREASED & BECAME GUSTY. WHILE THE STUDENT WAS FLYING THE PATTERN, HE ALLOWED THE GLIDER TO GET LOW ON BASE LEG. THE CFI BELIEVED THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM, BUT ON FINAL, THE AIRSPEED DECREASED & THE CFI TOOK CONTROL. HE LOWERED THE NOSE TO GAIN AIRSPEED, BUT THEY ENCOUNTERED UNEXPECTED, SEVERE SINK & WIND GRADIENTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE GLIDER CONTACTED THE TOP OF CORN GROWING NEAR THE END OF THE RWY. THE RIGHT WING ENCOUNTERED MORE OF THE CORN THAN THE LEFT WING & THE GLIDER SWERVED RIGHT & IMPACTED THE GROUND SIDEWAYS.
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: 1,094 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 205 in the last 90 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,810 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 1983; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Julian PA at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,500 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.