# NTSB CEN10LA035: Blanik L-13, N1142, Middlefield, OH, November 1, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 1, 2009, 16:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Middlefield, OH - Coordinates: 41.449443, -81.062774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4494&lon=-81.0628&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report June 17, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Cleveland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74993 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74993/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74993 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA035 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper control inputs which resulted in the inadvertent stall of the glider. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Letecke Zavody L-13 BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1360315), [All aircraft, 1,682 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Letecke Zavody L-13 BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=1360315), [All aircraft, 991 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Letecke Zavody L-13 BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1360315), [All aircraft, 1,387 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Glider tow event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510); cases with it: [Letecke Zavody L-13 BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510/sequence.md?model=1360315), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Letecke Zavody L-13 BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=1360315), [All aircraft, 794 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Letecke Zavody L-13 BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1360315), [All aircraft, 1,530 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Letecke Zavody L-13 BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1360315), [All aircraft, 10,152 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The glider pilot, who was a certificated flight instructor (CFI), reported that he was following the student pilot on the controls during the takeoff climb. He observed the tow plane rock its wings indicating to the glider to “wave off”. The CFI took control of the glider and stated, “It’s my airplane.” He released the tow line, turned 180 degrees to return to the airport, and lowered the nose to increase aircraft energy. The student felt they were too low to the ground and panicked. The student pilot grabbed the controls and pulled back on the stick. The CFI could not overpower the student on the controls and the airplane started to spin left. He picked up the left wing by applying opposite rudder. The glider impacted a tractor dealer’s parking lot. The inspection of the glider revealed that it sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. No pre-impact anomalies were noted. ## Factual narrative On November 1, 2009, at 1610 eastern standard time, an experimental L-13 Blanik glider, N1142, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain after it released the tow line about 200 feet above ground level during takeoff climb from the Geauga County Airport (7G8), Middlefield, Ohio. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot received serious injuries. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight was departing 7G8 on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The CFI reported that he was following the student pilot on the controls during the takeoff climb. He observed the tow plane rock its wings indicating to the glider to “wave off”. The CFI took control of the glider and stated, “It’s my airplane.” He released the tow line and turned 180 degrees to return to the airport. The CFI lowered the nose to increase aircraft energy. He reported that the student pilot grabbed the controls and pulled back on the stick. He could not overpower the student on the controls and the airplane started to spin left. He picked up the left wing by applying opposite rudder. The glider impacted a tractor dealer’s parking lot. Meanwhile, the tow airplane returned to the airport without incident. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector interviewed the student pilot. The student pilot stated that she observed several puffs of black smoke coming from the tow airplane. The CFI told her that he had the controls and started a turn back to the airport. She stated that she felt they were too low to the ground and she panicked, grabbed the controls, and pulled back on the stick. She heard the CFI shout, “Don’t stall, don’t stall,” but it was too late and the airplane impacted the ground. The inspection of the glider revealed that it sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. No pre-impact anomalies were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1142](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1142-2018-01-02), registration cancelled 2018-01-02, S/N 026315, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Blanik L-13 - Registry model: [Letecke Zavody L-13 BLANIK](https://openairdocs.org/model/letecke-zavody-l-13-blanik) (registry code 1360315) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 026315 - Airframe hours: 2752 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cleveland Soaring Society Inc - Registered owner: Cleveland Soaring Society Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 27, 2009 - Departed: 7G8, Middlefield, OH - Destination: 7G8, Middlefield, OH - Airport: 7G8, Geauga County Airport, runway 29, 3,499 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 18, 2008; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,840 total, 10 in this make and model, 1,730 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: YNG, 21 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 20091101025569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091101025569A), Nov 1, 2009: Letecke Zav L-13 BLANIK, Middlefield Twp, OH, Destroyed. Pilot of tow plane radioed he was having trouble. Student pilot in glider observed smoke coming from the engine of tow plane. Glider PIC stated that they were… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74993. 944 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 591 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328505&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Interviews (item 2, .PDF, 160 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328506&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Interviews-Master.PDF - Airport Diagram with Accident Site (item 3, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328507&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Diagram%20with%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Aircraft Maintenance Records (item 4, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328508&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.