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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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March 25, 1994 · Burkhart Grob G109B · N403DW

Nashua, NH

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 25, 1994
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Nashua, NH
Aircraft
Burkhart Grob G109B
Tail Number
N403DW
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC94LA073

THIS WAS A TRAINING FLIGHT WITH A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) AND A RATED STUDENT PILOT (RSP), IN A MOTOR-GLIDER. THE CFI HAD INFORMED THE TOWER CONTROLLERS THAT HE PLANNED TO PRACTICE A SIMULATED ROPE BRAKE AFTER TAKEOFF. AT 525 FEET THE CFI REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE AND THE RSP INITIATED A 30 DEGREE BANK TO THE RIGHT TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY. AFTER 120 DEGREES OF TURN, AS THE RSP AND CFI LOOKED OVER THEIR SHOULDERS TOWARD THE RUNWAY, THE RIGHT WING DROPPED AND THE BANK ANGLE INCREASED TO ABOUT 65 DEGREES. THE CFI TOOK THE CONTROLS, LEVELED THE WINGS AND ADDED POWER. THE GLIDER THEN COLLIDED WITH TREES.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S DELAY IN TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION, WHICH RESULTED IN THE MOTOR-GLIDER COLLIDING WITH TREES.

Full Narrative

On March 25, 1994, about 1033 eastern standard time, a Grob G109B, motor-glider, piloted by Barry Meeker, was substantially damaged during a practice forced landing to Boire Field, Nashua, New Hampshire. The certified flight instructor (CFI) received minor injuries and the rated student pilot (RSP) was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the CFI stated that the flight was to simulate an engine loss on takeoff. After the takeoff, at about 525 feet, the power was reduced to idle and a 30 degree bank to the right was initiated by the RSP. The CFI further stated: "...120 degrees of turn was completed when the student and instructor looked over their shoulders at the runway, at this time [the] glider quickly increased bank to 60 to 70 degrees, power was added and the wings were leveled, but too much altitude was lost and the glider would not clear the trees on the east side of Nashua's runway. The glider lost speed in the treetops and entered a spin, hitting nose first next to the runway." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's report stated that during an interview, the CFI stated after 120 degrees of turn, when the right wing dropped, the CFI took the controls, added power and leveled the wings. The report further stated that there were three Air Traffic Controllers on duty in the Nashua Control Tower at the time of the accident. The controllers told the Inspector that the pilot had requested a simulated "rope break" and he would start his turn at 500 feet. After the motor-glider departed runway 32, the controllers observed the glider in a right turn off the departure end of the runway and it "looked low." They observed the aircraft clip the trees and impact the ground.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:33 EST
Nearest AirportBoire Field (0nm)
Runway32
Runway Length5500 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBurkhart Grob G109B
Tail NumberN403DW
Aircraft CategoryGli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsGrob · 2500O-E1 · Reciprocating · 60
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 31 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 10000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point46 / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time13:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data