Burkhart Grob G103 accident near Barre, Massachusetts, June 2, 1990
On June 2, 1990 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G103 (glider), registered N3836H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Barre, Massachusetts. 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 PREMATURE COMMANDED TOW RELEASE BY THE TOWPLANE PILOT OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1990 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Barre, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G103 · all G103s on the register
- Registration
- N3836H · no longer on the register · serial 3836
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CLIMB OUT WITH THE GLIDER IN TOW, THE TOWPLANE LOST ENGINE POWER AND THE PILOT SIGNALED FOR AN EMERGENCY GLIDER RELEASE AT 200 FEET AGL. THE ALTITUDE WAS TOO LOW FOR THE GLIDER TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT OR REACH SUITABLE TERRAIN. THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH TREES. ENGINE POWER TO THE TOWPLANE INCREASED AFTER THE GLIDER RELEASE. THE TOWPLANE CONTINUED FLIGHT AND RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 925 hours in all; 142 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 854 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,364 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 1989; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,279 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: New Eng.Soaring Assoc.,Inc.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.