# Accident 20010819023969A: Let BLANIK L-13, Enumclaw, WA, August 19, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 19, 2001, 12:35 local time
- Place: Enumclaw, WA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.0997° N, 121.5998° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0997&lon=-121.5998&mi=10
- Aircraft: N82AS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82AS-2004-02-13) (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 SEA01LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA153) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010819023969A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 SEA01LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA153), Aug 19, 2001: Let Blanik L-13 (N82AS), Enumclaw, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The premature release of the towline and the pilot's improper selection of a landing area following the release. Factors include improper preflight planning.

## Other reports on N82AS (2)

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

- [Accident 19930626020779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930626020779A), Jun 26, 1993: Let L13BLANIK (N82AS), Enumclaw, WA, Substantial damage. Wing caught tall grass on edge of runway on landing. Glider ground looped.
- [Incident 19860405018199I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860405018199I), Apr 5, 1986: Let L13BLANIK (N82AS), Enumclaw, WA, Minor damage. Inadvertently applied flaps thinking it was spoilers. Overshot runway into an unimproved field.

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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