Burkhart Grob G103B accident near Marion, Ohio, July 17, 1991
On July 17, 1991 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G103B (glider), registered N5448X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marion, Ohio (Marion County airport). 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO CHANGE LANDING RUNWAYS WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A DRAGGED WING AND GROUND LOOP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1991 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Marion, Ohio · Marion County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G103B · all G103Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5448X · registry record · serial 3870K-111
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER WAS SET UP ON DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 24. THE PILOT TURNED BASED FOR RUNWAY 24, AND CHANGED HIS MIND DUE TO VARIABLE WINDS. HE EXTENDED HIS BASE TO LAND ON RUNWAY 30. THE GLIDER LACKED THE ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED TO REACH THE DESIRED RUNWAY. THE GLIDER STRUCK THE GROUND IN A RIGHT WING LOW ALTITUDE WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND LOOP.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,526 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 2,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,279 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,497 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.