Let BLANIK L-13 N48052

Summary

On 22 December 1996 at about 18:20 local time, a Let BLANIK L-13 registered N48052 was involved in an accident near Mulberry, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 December 1996 at 18:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Mulberry, Florida, United States

Coordinates

27.9002, -81.9694

Aircraft

Let BLANIK L-13

Registration

N48052

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97LA046

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to check that the spoiler handle was locked in the retracted position prior to takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot did not verify the spoiler handle was locked in the retracted position prior to takeoff. The spoiler handle was not locked and the spoilers deployed shortly after takeoff. The pilot did not hear the tow pilot and ground personnel radio transmissions informing him his spoilers were extended. The pilot noticed they were flying slow and thought the tow aircraft was having problems. When the tow pilot moved his rudder to signal him about the spoilers being extended he released from the tow plane. The glider descended rapidly and he realized the spoilers were extended. He retracted the spoilers but did not have enough altitude to make it back to the airport. The glider collided with a tree and came to rest in the tree.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.