# NTSB DEN01LA143: Blanik L-13, N310GM, Morgan, UT, August 11, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 11, 2001, 12:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place: Morgan, UT
- Coordinates: 41.009265, -111.669319 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0093&lon=-111.6693&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 1, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 53004
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53004/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA143

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadvertent lowering of the flaps and her failure to extend the spoilers.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - lowering of flaps - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - spoiler extension - not selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper descent rate - not possible, pilot in command
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The glider was a little high as the pilot approached the airport for landing. She pulled the spoiler handle twice and heard what she thought was the sound of the spoilers deploying, but failed to verify it visually. She had actually pulled the flap handle. The glider overshot the runway and she elected to land on a road adjacent to the departure end of the runway. The right wing was severed when the glider struck a tree and ground looped. The empennage was also torn off. The pilot said the flap handle is next to the spoiler handle and they are identical in appearance. The flap handle was found unlocked and half deployed; the spoiler handle was stowed.

## Factual narrative

On August 11, 2001, approximately 1250 mountain daylight time, a Blanik L-13, N310GM, was substantially damaged when it collided with a tree and ground looped during landing on a road near Morgan, Utah. The private pilot and her passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Morgan approximately 1220.

The following is based on an FAA inspector's verbal report of a conversation he had with the pilot, and the accident report submitted by the pilot. The glider was a little high as the pilot approached the airport for landing. She pulled the spoiler handle twice and heard what she thought was the sound of the spoilers deploying, but failed to verify it visually. She said she had actually pulled the flap handle. The glider overshot the runway and she elected to land on a road adjacent to the departure end of the runway. The right wing was severed when it struck a tree and the glider ground looped. The empennage was also torn off. The pilot said the flap handle is next to the spoiler handle and they are identical in appearance. The flap handle was found unlocked and half deployed; the spoiler handle was stowed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N310GM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N310GM-2003-09-19), registration cancelled 2003-09-19, S/N 025730, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: 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: 025730
- Airframe hours: 3228
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wayne Wilkinson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2000, 45 hours before
- Departed: 42U, Morgan, UT
- Airport: 42U, Morgan County, runway 03, 3,800 × 45 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; last flight review October 30, 1999; seat: front; flight hours: 56 total, 5 in this make and model, 33 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: HIF, 13 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 20010811021429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010811021429A), Aug 11, 2001: Morgan, UT, No damage. (-23) The pilot stated: on landing she pulled the flap handle by mistake. She thought she was deploying the spoilers. The aircraft floated down the runway to…

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.