Burkhart Grob G-103A accident near Franconia, New Hampshire, June 5, 1988
On June 5, 1988 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G-103A (glider), registered N49443, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franconia, New Hampshire (Franconia 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
- June 5, 1988 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Franconia, New Hampshire · Franconia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G-103A · all G-103As on the register
- Registration
- N49443 · no longer on the register · serial 3848-K94
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED AND THE STUDENT PILOT HAD A HARD TIME CONTROLLING THE GLIDER. AS THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL, THE STUDENT RELEASED THE TOW ROPE. THE INSTRUCTOR PUSHED THE NOSE DOWN AND TURNED IN AN ATTEMPT TO LEVEL THE WINGS, BUT THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND, SNAPPING OFF THE TAIL.
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: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,855 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 3,675 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1B5 Franconia NH at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,180 ft by 180 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 30 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N49443 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.