Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot not maintaining clearance from the tall grass during his recovery from the bounced landing. A factor was the tall grass.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The glider sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain. The pilot reported no injuries. The pilot stated, "Upon touch down the aircraft bounced, I closed the spoilers to save the landing, this caused an increase in speed, burning up available landing area. In forcing the aircraft to the ground, I caught the right wing-tip in tall grass causing the aircraft to ground loop. No injury to pilot was involved." The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 12, 2001, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II, N140BG, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage to its vertical and horizontal stabilizers and to its rear fuselage on impact with terrain during landing roll at Ionia County Airport (Y70), near Ionia, Michigan. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight departed from Y70 at 1550 and the glider was landing at the time of the accident. The pilot stated: After completing a 2 hour soaring flight, I approached landing area on a N-W heading. Upon touch down the aircraft bounced, I closed the spoilers to save the landing, this caused an increase in speed, burning up available landing area. In forcing the aircraft to the ground, I caught the right wing-tip in tall grass causing the aircraft to ground loop. No injury to pilot was involved. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure.