# NTSB BFO94LA074: Let Blanik L-13, N2167, Plymouth, MA, April 23, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 23, 1994, 14:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place: Plymouth, MA
- Location: 41.9583° N, 70.6638° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Plymouth, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9583&lon=-70.6638&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 5, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8915
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8915/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA074

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TURNING FROM BASE TO FINAL WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST.  HE STATED THE WIND '...BLEW MY RIGHT WING UP AND OVER INTO A SPIN.'  HE RECOVERED ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE TREE TOPS, BUT HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO REACH THE AIRPORT AND THE GLIDER STRUCK TREES.  THE PILOT REPORTED THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE 'CARRIED MORE SPEED.'

## Factual narrative

On Saturday, April 23, 1994, about 1410 eastern daylight time, a Let-13-13 glider, N2167, collided with trees during final approach to Plymouth Airport, at Plymouth, Massachusetts.  The certificated private pilot and his passenger were not injured.  The glider sustained substantial damage.  The local flight was being operated by Plymouth Aviation Soaring and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed.

According to the pilot, during the turn from base to final, "...a high gust of wind drove my right wing up and over into a spin.  I initiated recovery procedure and leveled off about 20' above the trees...I realized I couldn't go anywhere at that altitude, picked a hole in the trees [and] flew to it and pancaked in."

The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.  He reported the accident could have been prevented if his airspeed was 55 mph instead of 45 mph.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2167](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2167-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 173460, built 1967 (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)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 173460
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Plymouth Aviation Soaring, doing business as Plymouth Aviation & Soaring
- Registered owner: Danial Simmons
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal
- Departed: PLY
- Destination: PLY, MA
- Airport: PYM, Plymouth Municipal Aprt, runway 24, 3,501 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 424 total, 53 in this make and model, 187 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FMH, 18 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 19940423009039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940423009039A), Apr 23, 1994: Let L13BLANIK, Plymouth, MA, Substantial damage. Too slow on approach. Wind lifted wing. Entered spin. Recovered too low to make runway. Pancaked into trees.

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.

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