20010819023969A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Let BLANIK L-13 · Enumclaw, WA · August 19, 2001

Date: August 19, 2001 · 12:35 local
Place: Enumclaw, WA
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N82AS
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA01LA153

N82ASRegistration cancelled Feb 13, 2004 · Let BLANIK L-13S/N 026651 · Built 1976 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) During a tow airplane/glider operation departing bergseth field, a private airstrip near Enumclaw, WA., the glider experienced an uncommanded early release of the tow line from the towing aircraft (N333TM). This release occurred between 100 and 200 feet above field elevation and the glider pilot made a steep right turn in an attempt to return to the field. Bergseth is built out of the side of a hill with fill and the glider collided with tree tops below field elevation and subsequently terrain. The front seat passenger received serious injuries, the pilot minor injuries, and the glider was destroyed.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING A TOW AIRPLANE/GLIDER OPERATION DEPARTING BERGSETH FIELD, A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR ENUMCLAW, WA., THE GLIDER EXPERIENCED AN UNCOMMANDED EARLY RELEASE OF THE TOW LINE FROM THE TOWING AIRCRAFT (N333TM). THIS RELEASE OCCURRED BETWEEN 100 AND 200 FEET ABOVE FIELD ELEVATION AND THE GLIDER PILOT MADE A STEEP RIGHT TURN IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE FIELD. BERGSETH IS BUILT OUT OF THE SIDE OF A HILL WITH FILL AND THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH TREE TOPS BELOW FIELD ELEVATION AND SUBSEQUENTLY TERRAIN. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES, THE PILOT MINOR INJURIES, AND THE GLIDER WAS DESTROYED.

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 SEA01LA153Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEnumclaw, WAThe premature release of the towline and the pilot's improper selection of a landing area following the release. Factors include improper preflight planning.Aug 19, 2001 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N82AS · 2

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

Accident 19930626020779ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Enumclaw, WAWing caught tall grass on edge of runway on landing. Glider ground looped.Jun 26, 1993 · Reported as Let L13BLANIK · Substantial damage Incident 19860405018199ILevel Off Touchdown · Enumclaw, WAInadvertently applied flaps thinking it was spoilers. Overshot runway into an unimproved field.Apr 5, 1986 · Reported as Let L13BLANIK · Minor damage