# NTSB CHI90LA140: Let L-13, N9297Z, Oxford, MI, May 26, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 26, 1990, 15:05 local (19:05 UTC)
- Place: Oxford, MI
- Coordinates: 42.690177, -82.819961 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6902&lon=-82.8200&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14678
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14678/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA140

## Probable cause

THE GLIDER PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE TOUCHDOWN AND LANDING ROLL. THE POORLY EXECUTED APPROACH TO LANDING, AND ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - planned approach - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll
  - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE GLIDER PILOT STATED THAT HE MADE HIS APPROACH TO THE LANDING AREA WITH FLAPS, A CONFIGURATION HE WAS NOT VERY FAMILIAR WITH; AS A RESULT, HE MISJUDGED THE APPROACH AND LANDED LONG. THE LANDING STRIP WAS DESCRIBED AS HILLY WITH ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN, AND IT WAS SOFT IN SPOTS FROM RECENT RAINS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, HE ENCOUNTERED A 'SHARP BUMP . . . A SIDEWAYS MOTION, THE LEFT WING WENT DOWN AND THE SHIP GROUND LOOPED.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9297Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9297Z-2004-03-31), registration cancelled 2004-03-31, S/N 026505, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LET 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: 026505
- Engines: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Vultures, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: NONE, OXFORD, MI
- Airport: runway 27, 3,800 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; private; seat: front; flight hours: 98 total, 60 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19900526017879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900526017879A), May 26, 1990: Let L13BLANIK, Oxford, MI, Substantial damage. Landed long and fast on rough glider strip bounced and ground looped. Spoilers not used.

## Other investigations on N9297Z (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 CHI01LA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA277), Aug 4, 2001: Blanik L-13 (N9297Z), Marlette, MI, minor damage. Probable cause: Ground crew personnel improperly connected the tow winch cable prior to takeoff which resulted in one side of the winch cable coming disconnected. Factors associated with the accident were the ditch…

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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