Incident Overview
On September 22, 2018, at approximately 1500 eastern daylight time, a Grob G103 Twin Astir glider, registration N72EJ, sustained minor damage during a landing accident in Groveland, Florida. The glider was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported no injuries to himself, while the student pilot sustained serious injuries.
Sequence of Events
According to the flight instructor, during the landing approach, he verbally stated, “I have the controls,” intending to take command of the glider. However, the student pilot did not relinquish control. The instructor further reported that, as a result, he was unable to control the glider, leading to a hard landing. The hard landing resulted in serious injuries to the student pilot.
Aircraft and Damage
The glider, a Grob G103 Twin Astir, was manufactured by Grob Aircraft AG. The accident resulted in minor damage to the aircraft. The specific components damaged were not detailed in the report.
Operational Context
The flight was conducted under instructional conditions, with a student pilot receiving training in glider operations. The accident occurred during the landing phase of the flight. No information was provided regarding weather conditions, air traffic control involvement, or the presence of any other factors.