# Accident 19961030037039A: Let L13BLANIK, Benton, TN, October 30, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 30, 1996, 18:00 local time
- Place: Benton, TN
- Airport: Chilhowee Gliderport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.1696° N, 84.6492° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1696&lon=-84.6492&mi=10
- Aircraft: N15CB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15CB-2013-08-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Let BLANIK L-13 (registry code 1360306, https://openairdocs.org/model/let-blanik-l-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LET L13BLANIK
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 7,500 total, 7 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL97LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA013) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961030037039A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

COLLIDED WITH A TREE ON SHORT FINAL. CFI AND STUDENT REPORTED BLINDED BY SUN. DISPLACED THRESOLD NOT CONSIDERED. (-23) INSTRUCTOR ALLOWED STUDENT TO DESCEND TOO LOW ON LANDING APPROACH AN D IMPACTED A TREE SHORT OF RUNWAY 21, AT 92A.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL97LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA013), Oct 30, 1996: Let L-13 (N15CB), Benton, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the flight crew to maintain altitude/clearance above runway obstacles, and inadequate supervision by the flight instructor. Factors relating to the accident were sunglare on the canopy,…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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