# Accident 20010804026139A: Let BLANIK L-13, Marlette, MI, August 4, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 4, 2001, 15:15 local time - Place: Marlette, MI - Airport: Marlette Airport - Damage: No damage - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 43.3195° N, 83.0808° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3195&lon=-83.0808&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9297Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9297Z-2004-03-31) (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) - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI01LA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA277) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010804026139A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON AUGUST 4, 2001, AT 1515 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BLANIK L-13 GLIDER, N9297Z, COLLIDED WITH A TREE DURING AN INITIAL TAKEOFF RUN AT THE MARLETTE AIRPORT, MARLETTE, MICHIGAN. THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR RECEIVED A SERIOUS INJURY AND THE STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE GLIDER RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE. THE 14 CFR PART 91 INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE LOCAL FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. (-23) INSTRUCTOR PILOT (PETE SISOY) AND STUDENT PILOT (CAMERON MARTIN) ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF UTILIZING A WINCH TOW SYSTEM. TWO MEMBERS OF THE VULTURE SOARING CLUB ATTACHED THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE TOW BRIDLES. THE LEFT SIDE BRIDLE RELEASED SHORTLY AFTER THE TOW STARTED, WITHIN A FEW FEET OF APPLICATION OF TENSION. THE RIGHT BRIDLE WAS THEN THE ONLY PULL ON THE GLIDER. THIS CAUSED THE INITIATION OF A SLOW LEFT TURN. THE INSTRUCTOR PULLED THE TOW RELEASE. HOWEVER, BY THIS TIME THE GLIDER WAS HEADED LEFT OFF OF THE GRASSY AREA PARALLELING THE RUNWAY. THE GLIDER HIT A SMALL TREE AND WENT INTO A SHALLOW DITCH, APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET FROM THE STARTING POINT. DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO A SMALL TEAR IN THE LEFT WING LEADING EDGE AND A HOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT. THE HOLE IN THE COCKPIT WAS CAUSED BY A SMALL TREE BRANCH THAT PENETRATED THE INSTRUCTORS CALF. MR. SISOY PILOT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL EMS PERSONNEL FOR REMOVAL OF THE STILL IMPALED TREE BRANCH AND REPAIR OF HIS LEG. MR. SISOY WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL ON THE AFTERNOON OF 8 AUGUST 2001. ## 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 CHI01LA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA277), Aug 4, 2001: Blanik L-13 (N9297Z), Marlette, MI, minor damage. Probable cause: Ground crew personnel improperly connected the tow winch cable prior to takeoff which resulted in one side of the winch cable coming disconnected. Factors associated with the accident were the ditch… ## Other reports on N9297Z (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19940806047669I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940806047669I), Aug 6, 1994: Let L13BLANIK (N9297Z), Fowlerville, MI, Minor damage. Losing altitude. Tried for Fowlerville but had to land short in cornfield. Failed to obtain any thermals. - [Incident 19930418016169I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930418016169I), Apr 18, 1993: Let L13BLANIK (N9297Z), Richmond, MI. Student pilot landed at an off airport site on solo flight. Cause of landing not stated. - [Accident 19900526017879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900526017879A), May 26, 1990: Let L13BLANIK (N9297Z), Oxford, MI, Substantial damage. Landed long and fast on rough glider strip bounced and ground looped. Spoilers not used. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.