# Accident 20020505007469A: Let L13BLANIK, Saratogasprings, NY, May 5, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 5, 2002, 13:30 local time
- Place: Saratogasprings, NY
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.0511° N, 73.8611° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0511&lon=-73.8611&mi=10
- Aircraft: N711KR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N711KR-2012-06-28) (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
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC02LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA092) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020505007469A

## Narrative

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

(-23) GLIDER WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,300 AGL, 1.4 MILES FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 23, WHEN THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED A MASSIVE SINK RATE OF 1,000 FEET PER MINUTE. UNABLE TO REACH THE AIRPORT, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CHOSE TO LAND IN A BASEBALL FIELD. BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE FIELD, THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY GROUND LOOPED THE GLIDER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING, SHEARING OFF 5-6 FEET OF IT, AND BUCKLED THE FUSELAGE JUST FORWARD OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES INVOLVED.

## 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 NYC02LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA092), May 5, 2002: Blanik L-13 (N711KR), Saratoga Spring, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider encountering an unanticipated downdraft, which resulted in insufficient altitude to reach a suitable landing area.

## Other reports on N711KR (2)

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

- [Accident 19910701025229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910701025229A), Jul 1, 1991: Let L13BLANIK (N711KR), Driggs, ID, Substantial damage. Too low on final approach. Landed short of runway and collided with a fence.
- [Accident 19831203059809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831203059809A), Dec 3, 1983: Let L13BLANIK (N711KR), Jacumba, CA, Substantial damage. Glider pilot misjudged winds and glider struck bush short of runway causing crash.

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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