Burkhart Grob G-109B accident near Rock Springs, Wyoming, August 14, 1994
On August 14, 1994 at about 7:23 pm local time, a Burkhart Grob G-109B (glider), registered N45GF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rock Springs, Wyoming (Rock Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND WIND GUSTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 1994 · about 7:23 pm local time
- Place
- Rock Springs, Wyoming · Rock Springs
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob G-109B · all G-109Bs on the register
- Registration
- N45GF · registry record · serial 6345
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF IN GUSTING WINDS AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, THE MOTORIZED GLIDER DRIFTED OFF TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH SAGE BRUSH. THE PILOT CORRECTED WITH RIGHT RUDDER; HOWEVER, THE GLIDER DRIFTED BACK OVER, AND OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE GLIDER DID NOT GAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE SAGE BRUSH AND SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE GLIDER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 1,108 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 1,874 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Grob 2500E1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CYS Cheyenne WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:24 pm from RKS
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA94LA210.