# Accident 19970819023189A: Let L13BLANIK, Hamilton, MT, August 19, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 19, 1997, 16:30 local time
- Place: Hamilton, MT
- Airport: Ravalli County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.1601° N, 114.1408° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1601&lon=-114.1408&mi=10
- Aircraft: N52AS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52AS) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA97LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA194) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970819023189A

## Narrative

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

SAILPLANE STRUCK A TAXIWAY SIGN WHILE TURNING OFF THE RUNWAY AT A HIGH SPEED. (.4)EYEWITNESSES OBSERVED THE GLIDER TURN OFF THE RUNWAY AT AN EXCESSIVE SPEED AFTER LANDING.  THE GLIDER THEN IMPACTED A TAXIWAY SIGN NEAR THE TURNOFF.  THE PILOT STATED THAT A GUST OF WIND 'SLAMMED DOWN' THE LEFT WING OF THE GLIDER ONTO THE SIGN.  THE EYEWITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE WITH NO GUSTS OR CROSSWINDS.

## 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 SEA97LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA194), Aug 19, 1997: Let Blanik L-13 (N52AS), Hamilton, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive speed taxispeed and failure to maintain wing clearance from a taxiway sign.

## Other reports on N52AS (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19930926037719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930926037719A), Sep 26, 1993: Let L13BLANIK (N52AS), Clinton, MT, Substantial damage. Tow rope broke second time. Tow plane aborted. Landed on tow rope causing glider to veer off runway. Hit border cone

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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