Burkhart Grob G-109B accident near Woodbine, Maryland, June 10, 1992
On June 10, 1992 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G-109B (glider), registered N693RF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodbine, Maryland (Woodbine Gliderport 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 STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE GLIDER DURING TAKEOFF, WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND LOOP. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, THE INSTRUCTOR'S LACK OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL GLIDER, AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE AS AN INSTRUCTOR IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 1992 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Woodbine, Maryland · Woodbine Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G-109B · all G-109Bs on the register
- Registration
- N693RF · no longer on the register · serial 6326
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE MOTORIZED GLIDER DURING TAKEOFF. HE STATED THAT, 'BEFORE THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT COULD REGAIN CONTOL, THE RIGHT WING HIT HIGH GRASS WHICH CAUSED THE GLIDER TO GROUND LOOP.' THE STUDENT PILOT HAD 13 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT HAD 10 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL GLIDER, WITH 1 HOUR AS AN INSTRUCTOR IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 10,300 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 10,250 as pilot in command; 2,060 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 561 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1991; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,874 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Grob B2500E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Consumer Services
The flight
- Departed from: MD78
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,000 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°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.