Let BLANIK L-13 N48037
4 September 2000 · Wurtsboro, New York, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 4 September 2000 at about 16:25 local time, a Let BLANIK L-13 registered N48037 was involved in an accident near Wurtsboro, New York, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 16:25
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Wurtsboro, New York, United States
- Nearest airport
- Wurtsboro-Sullivan County (N82)
- Coordinates
- 41.5703, -74.4795
- Aircraft
- Let BLANIK L-13
- Registration
- N48037
- 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
- NYC00LA251
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's improper weather evaluation and decision to initiate a flight with an approaching rain shower. A factor in this accident was heavy rain, which reduced visibility.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Prior to takeoff the glider pilot observed 'dark clouds' to the west of the airport. Additionally, the tow plane pilot pointed to the clouds prior to takeoff. The glider pilot 'did not feel that the clouds were moving all that fast,' and elected to depart. The glider was towed to an altitude of 2,500 feet and released. About 1 minute later, the glider pilot noticed that it was 'suddenly much darker, and the clouds had quickly moved over the airport west to east.' He also began to experience some light rain, and intended to return to the airport for landing. The pilot stated that while entering the traffic pattern for landing, 'the rain got so heavy that I had no visibility forward.' While on final approach for landing, the glider began to impact trees. The glider veered to the left and pitched down towards the ground. The glider came to rest in the trees, about 300 feet from the runway threshold. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the glider. The pilot reported 34 hours of total flight experience, all in gliders.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Let BLANIK accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jul 1999 | Let BLANIK L-13 | Monroe, Georgia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 1999 | Let BLANIK L-13 | Perry, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jun 1999 | Let BLANIK L-13 | Barstow, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Aug 1999 | Let BLANIK L-13 | Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States | Sammie V. Wood | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1999 | Let BLANIK L-13 | Sylvania, Wisconsin, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Oct 2001 | Let BLANIK L 33 SOLO | Windsor, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Nov 2000 | Piper J3C-65 | Middletown, New York, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2000 | Piper PA-18-150 | Dansville, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Feb 2000 | Cessna 185 | Saratoga Sprngs, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Sep 2000 | Cessna 150G | Conesus, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Nov 2000 | Cessna 180H | Long Lake, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2000 | Cessna 172G | North Elba, New York, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |