Burkhart Grob G-103-II AERO accident near Erwinna, Pennsylvania, June 15, 1985
On June 15, 1985 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G-103-II AERO (glider), registered N217BG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erwinna, Pennsylvania. It was a personal 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
- June 15, 1985 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Erwinna, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G-103-II AERO G-103-II A · all G-103-II AEROs on the register
- Registration
- N217BG · registry record · serial 33984K
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER CONTACTED TALL HAY IN A FLD AND GROUND LOOPED DURING AN OFF ARPT FORCED LANDING. THE PLT STATED THE GLIDER WAS RELEASED DOWNWIND FROM THE ARPT AT AN ALT OF APRX 3000 FT AGL. A SINK RATE OF 1000 FPM DEVELOPED PREVENTING THE PLT FROM RETURNING TO LAND AT THE ARPT.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 55 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1985; 1 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9N1 Erwinna PA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:30 pm
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.