Probable cause
The flight instructor's delayed remedial action resulting in an off-airfield landing and ground loop.
NTSB analysis
The certificated flight instructor and his student were on approach, in a glider. The student was attempting to make a no-airbrake landing. While on approach, the student was using a forward slip to correct the altitude. The instructor reported that his student’s aggressive control inputs made the aircraft too slow and too low to reach the airfield. The instructor took over the controls and decided to make an off-field landing. While landing, the glider’s right wing impacted tall grass. The flight instructor reported that the aircraft ground looped to the right causing substantial damage to the rudder and empennage. Neither the flight instructor nor the student reported any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA09CA525 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 17, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Clermont, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Seminole Lake Gliderport (6FL0)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Burkhart Grob G-103A TWI
- N-number
- N308BG
- Category
- Glider
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.