Crisp County - Cordele Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cordele, Georgia 31015
Sunday, May 24, 1998 16:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he was flaring above the runway when the glider experienced an updraft and began a slight climb. In order to counteract the slight climb, the pilot added additional spoiler. The glider then came down hard on the runway and bounced back into the air. The glider continued to oscillate in this manner for three oscillations until the empennage separated from the fuselage. The glider then rolled off the runway and came to a stop.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper descent rate that led to a hard landing and porpoise, and his improper recovery from the ensuing bounced landing, resulting in the eventual separation of the empennage. A factor was the updraft.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/24/1998
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CORDELE
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31015
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CRISP COUNTY - CORDELE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CKF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 50
Airport Elevation 310
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID MCN
Elevation of weather observation facility 354
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 50
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 28
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 207
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 26 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:17AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5448G
NTSB Number ATL98LA079
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Burkhart Grob
Aircraft Model G-103
Aircraft Series Identifier G-103
Aircraft Serial Number 3868-K-109
Certified Max Gross Weight 1279
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 23 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1012
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MID-GEORGIA SOARING ASSOC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 120 RAQUEL DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City MARIETTA
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30064
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PANOS KANES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 522 CLAIRMONT AVE.
Operator City DECATUR
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30030
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CKF
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1545
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 5
Runway Length 5007
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --