Let L-13 N99965

Summary

On 2 April 1983 at about 18:15 local time, a Let L-13 registered N99965, operated by Aquarian Soaring, was involved in an accident near California City, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

2 April 1983 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

California City, California, United States

Nearest airport

California City Muni (L71)

Coordinates

35.1509, -117.9193

Aircraft

Let L-13

Registration

N99965

Category

Glider

Operator

Aquarian Soaring

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

California City → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX83LA234

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING FLT, THE GLIDER SUSTAINED IN-FLT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHILE MANEUVERING AT AN ALTITUDE OF APRX 17,500 FT MSL IN THE VICINITY OF CALIFORNIA CITY, CA. DURING A PRELIMINARY VERBAL STATEMENT TO AN FAA INSPECTOR, THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD DONE A COUPLE OF LOOPS. HE SAID HE HAD JUST RECOVERED TO LEVEL FLT WHEN HE HEARD A COUPLE OF LOUD BANGS, THEN FELT A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE CONTROLS. LATER, THE PLT INSISTED THAT NO AEROBATIC MANEUVERS WERE PERFORMED, BUT THAT HE HAD ENCOUNTER TURBULENCE & HAD 'FLOWN THRU A ROTOR.' WRINKLES WERE FOUND IN THE SKIN ON THE AFT FUSELAGE & EMPENNAGE, THE VERTICLE STABILIZER WAS DEFORMED & THE LEFT HORIZONAL STABILIZER & ELEVATOR HAD SEVERAL AREAS OF DEFORMATION. SURFACE WINDS IN THE AREA WERE FROM 270 DEG AT 22 GUSTING 28 KTS. PEAK SURFACE WINDS WERE FROM 290 DEG AT 42 KTS. STANDING LENTICULAR CLOUDS WERE REPORTED TOPPING THE MOUNTAINS & SIGMET JULIET 4 WAS IN EFFECT CAUTIONING OCCASIONAL SEVERE TURBULENCE BELOW 16,000 FT MSL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.