IONIA, MI, USA
N140BG
BURKHART GROB BG 103
THE SIGHTSEEING GLIDER FLIGHT WAS BEING TOW LAUNCHED BY A PIPER CUB. AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 100 FEET AGL, THE TOW PLANE HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT OF THE TOW PLANE DISCONNECTED THE GLIDER AND MADE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD. THE GLIDER PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN THE SAME FIELD. THE GLIDER TOUCHED DOWN IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR. WHEN IT TOUCHED DOWN THE SECOND TIME THE TAIL HIT BEFORE THE LANDING GEAR.
On May 20, 1994, about 1257 eastern daylight time, a Burkhart Grob BG 103, N140BG, sustained substantial damage in an off-airport landing near Ionia, Michigan. During the takeoff sequence, the tow airplane lost engine power, and the tow plane pilot disconnected the glider. Both the airplane and the glider landed in a field near the airport. The tow airplane was not damaged. The sightseeing glider flight originated at the Ionia County Airport. Neither the commercial pilot nor the passenger were injured. The pilot of the glider stated he landed in a nose-down attitude, the glider bounced back into the air approximately 10-15 feet, and touched down a second time striking the tail before the landing gear touched the ground.
a hard landing as a result of the early disconnect of the glider launch/tow equipment.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
