20000904043449A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Let L13BLANIK · Wurtsboro, NY · September 4, 2000

Date: September 4, 2000 · 12:45 local
Place: Wurtsboro, NY
Airport: Wurtsboro/Sullivan Co Airport
Phase of flight: Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N48037
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC00LA251
Reported as: Let L13BLANIK
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 45 total1 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N48037Registration cancelled Apr 2, 2002 · Let BLANIK L-13S/N 026022 · Built 1975 Airframe modelLet BLANIK L-13 Engine modelNONENone

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Aero tow launched in glider in advance of fast moving cold front, and released over airport at 2500'. Upon pilot realization of severity of weather he initiated return to airport for landing. During the process the pilots forward visibility was obscured by rain on windshield and the left wing of aircraft struck a tree located on the left side of the runway about 200' past arrival end.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AERO TOW LAUNCHED IN GLIDER IN ADVANCE OF FAST MOVING COLD FRONT, AND RELEASED OVER AIRPORT AT 2500'. UPON PILOT REALIZATION OF SEVERITY OF WEATHER HE INITIATED RETURN TO AIRPORT FOR LANDING. DURING THE PROCESS THE PILOTS FORWARD VISIBILITY WAS OBSCURED BY RAIN ON WINDSHIELD AND THE LEFT WING OF AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY ABOUT 200' PAST ARRIVAL END.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC00LA251Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportWurtsboro, NYThe 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.Sep 4, 2000 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N48037 · 1

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

Accident 19790506010079ALevel Off Touchdown · Shirley, NYGlider struck VASI during landing. Instructor and student on board.May 6, 1979 · Reported as Let L13BLANIK · Substantial damage