# Accident 20000904043449A: Let L13BLANIK, Wurtsboro, NY, September 4, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 4, 2000, 12:45 local time
- Place: Wurtsboro, NY
- Airport: Wurtsboro/Sullivan Co Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.5703° N, 74.4795° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5703&lon=-74.4795&mi=10
- Aircraft: N48037, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48037-2002-04-02) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 45 total, 1 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC00LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA251) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000904043449A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 NYC00LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA251), Sep 4, 2000: Let Blanik L-13 (N48037), Wurtsboro, NY, substantial damage. 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.

## Other reports on N48037 (1)

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

- [Accident 19790506010079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790506010079A), May 6, 1979: Let L13BLANIK (N48037), Shirley, NY, Substantial damage. Glider struck VASI during landing. Instructor and student on board.

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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