# NTSB ATL95LA080: Let Blanik L-13, N48039, Brownsboro, AL, April 8, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 8, 1995, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Brownsboro, AL - Coordinates: 34.719738, -86.480705 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7197&lon=-86.4807&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 21, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3547 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3547/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA080 ## Probable cause THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADVERTENT USE OF SPOILERS DURING TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE GLIDER INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO IDENTIFY THE EXTENDED SPOILERS, AND THE PROXIMITY OF TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. ## Analysis THE GLIDER INSTRUCTOR (CFI) REPORTED THAT AS THE GLIDER WAS BEING TOWED ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE STUDENT PILOT ACCIDENTALLY ACTIVATED THE SPOILERS. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE TOW PLANE COULD NOT GAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE, WHILE TOWING THE GLIDER IN THIS CONFIGURATION, SO THE TOW PILOT RELEASED THE GLIDER AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 80 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TURNED THE GLIDER TO AVOID TREES AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A CLEARING; HOWEVER, THE WING OF THE GLIDER CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE GLIDER THEN ROTATED ABOUT 90 DEGREES AND SLID TO A STOP WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ## Factual narrative On April 8, 1995, at 1700 central daylight time, a Blanik L-13 glider, N48039, collided with the ground while maneuvering for an emergency landing following an aborted takeoff near Brownsboro, Alabama. The training flight operated under provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The glider sustained substantial damage; the flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The flight departed Brownsboro at 1658 hours. The flight instructor reported that during the takeoff roll, he was occupied assisting the student with the takeoff. He did not realize how much of the runway had been used during the takeoff roll until after the aircraft was in the air. He stated that the student was a large man, and that because of his size, his knee was located immediately under the spoiler handle. The student pilot failed to keep his hand on the spoiler handle to prevent accidental activation of the spoiler, and inadvertently deployed the spoiler with his left knee during takeoff roll as the glider was towed. Before the flight instructor could gain control of the glider, at an altitude of about 80 feet above ground level, the tow aircraft pilot released the glider. The flight instructor attempted to maneuver the glider for a landing, but the left wing collided with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb - spoiler extension - inadvertent use, dual student (cause) - aircraft performance,climb capability - impeded - glider/tow release - performed, pilot of other aircraft - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - spoiler extension - not identified, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - performed, pilot in command ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48039](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48039), registered now, S/N 026102 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Let BLANIK L-13 (BLANIK L-1) - Registry model: [Let BLANIK L-13](https://openairdocs.org/model/let-blanik-l-13) (registry code 1360306) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 026102 - Airframe hours: 2600 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Theodore N. Mavrotheris - Registered owner: Huntsville Soaring Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 1995, 25 hours before - Airport: 3M5, Moontown Airport, runway 27, 2,300 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,210 total, 120 in this make and model, 686 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HSV, 30 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950408007409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950408007409A), Apr 8, 1995: Let L13BLANIK, Huntsville, AL, Substantial damage. Students knee activated spoilers on glider tow. Tow pilot released glider at 80 ft AGL. Glinder wing hit ground. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- 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.