# NTSB CHI06CA252: Let Blanik L-13, N12YA, Hampshire, IL, September 2, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 2, 2006, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Hampshire, IL - Coordinates: 42.154167, -88.51139 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1542&lon=-88.5114&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 64530 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64530/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA252 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate approach for landing and his failure to attain a proper descent rate. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - planned approach - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper descent rate - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The glider sustained substantial damage when it ground looped and skidded to a stop while landing at a grass airstrip. The pilot reported that after releasing from the tow airplane at 3,000 feet above ground level (agl), no thermal lift was encountered so he returned to the airstrip for landing. He reported that he experienced a sink rate that "seemed very excessive" during the downwind leg. He "cut the pattern short" and turned onto the base leg, which resulted in the glider being high on the base leg. The pilot reported that he deployed the spoilers, but he was slow to retract the spoilers due to the "heavy force required to push the handle forward." The glider lost altitude. The pilot reported that the left wing caught the grass about the same time the glider touched down with the nose about 20 degrees off the runway heading. ## Factual narrative The glider sustained substantial damage when it ground looped and skidded to a stop while landing at a grass airstrip. The pilot reported that after releasing from the tow airplane at 3,000 feet above ground level (agl), no thermal lift was encountered so he returned to the airstrip for landing. He reported that he experienced a sink rate that "seemed very excessive" during the downwind leg. He "cut the pattern short" and turned onto the base leg, which resulted in the glider being high on the base leg. The pilot reported that he deployed the spoilers, but he was slow to retract the spoilers due to the "heavy force required to push the handle forward." The glider lost altitude. The pilot reported that the left wing caught the grass about the same time the glider touched down with the nose about 20 degrees off the runway heading. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12YA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12YA-2012-06-07), registration cancelled 2012-06-07, S/N 025321, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LET Blanik L-13 - 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: 025321 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sky Soaring Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 55LL, Hampshire, IL - Airport: 55LL, Sky Soaring Airport, runway 27, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 11,342 total, 10 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots ## 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 20060902026529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060902026529A), Sep 2, 2006: Let L13BLANIK, Union, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) Entered downwind at 800' agl-noticed abnormal sink rate 10 seconds after turning downwind-choose to "cut it short" with a displaced base leg half way… ## Other investigations on N12YA (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 NYC73FNA48](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73FNA48), May 12, 1973: Blanik L-13 (N12YA), Plymouth, MA, substantial damage 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.