Event LAX97LA174

Factual narrative

On May 2, 1997, at 1410 hours mountain standard time, a Grob 103A glider, N931BG, collided with vegetation after the pilot under training landed left of the runway 23C centerline at the Pleasant Valley Airport, Peoria, Arizona. The glider was substantially damaged. The certified flight instructor and certificated commercial pilot student were not injured. The glider was being operated as an instructional flight by Baboquivari Soaring School, d.b.a. Turf Soaring School, Peoria. The local flight originated from the Pleasant Valley Airport at 1320. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. According to the flight instructor, the student pilot landed the glider on the left side of the runway. The left wing tip dragged in high vegetation and the glider ground looped to the left. The instructor also stated he was overconfident in the pilot's ability and did not anticipate the pilot's actions. The runway was 4,000 feet long and 75 feet wide. The wing span of the glider is about 57 feet (17.5 meters) wide. During a landing, the glider collided with high vegetation on the left side of the runway after the student pilot allowed it to touchdown left of the runway centerline. The left wing tip dragged in the vegetation, and the glider ground looped to the left. The instructor stated that he was overconfident in the student's ability and did not anticipate his actions. The runway was 4,000 feet long and 75 feet wide. The wing span of the glider was about 57 feet. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12