# NTSB DEN04CA085: Let Blanik L-13, N99860, Durango, CO, June 3, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 3, 2004, 15:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Durango, CO - Coordinates: 37.337776, -107.851943 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3378&lon=-107.8519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59410 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04CA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59410/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA085 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision and his failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain, and the low approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - low pass - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis As the flight approached the airport, the pilot told the passenger that "he likes to come in down to the landing strip and then take off again." They flew over the field to observe the winds. They were calm. According to the pilot's statement, he decided to "fly a low approach over the field and turn around and land." During the pull-up from the low approach, the pilot expected to gain at least "300 feet"; however, he only gained 100 feet. At this point, the glider was over the river with trees ahead and he elected to maneuver back to the field. During the turn back to the runway, the right wing impacted the ground and the airplane cart wheeled, causing substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On June 3, 2004, at 1555 mountain daylight time, a LET Blanik L-13, N99860, operated by Durango Soaring Club, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a landing at Val-Air Airport (CD82), Durango, Colorado. The commercial pilot was seriously injured and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the local scenic flight being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had departed at 1518. According to the passenger's statement, the flight was uneventful. As the flight approached the airport, the pilot told the passenger that "he likes to come in down to the landing strip and then take off again." They flew over the field to observe the winds. They were calm. According to the pilot's statement, he decided to "fly a low approach over the field and turn around and land." During the pull-up from the low approach, the pilot expected to gain at least "300 feet"; however, he only gained 100 feet. At this point, the glider was over the river with trees ahead and elected to maneuver back to the field. During the turn back to the runway, the right wing impacted the ground and the airplane cartwheeled. A post-accident examination revealed that the outboard portion of the right wing was bent up approximately 15 degrees, the fuselage nose was fractured, and the empennage bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99860](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99860-2007-07-30), registration cancelled 2007-07-30, S/N 026511, built 1976 (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: 026511 - Airframe hours: 2957.6 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lavern D. St. Clair - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 11, 2004, 27 hours before - Departed: CD82, Durango, CO - Airport: CD82, Val - Air, runway 35, 3,500 × 135 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 16, 2004; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,500 total, 50 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: DRO, 1 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 20040603011289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040603011289A), Jun 3, 2004: Let L13BLANIK, Durango, CO, Destroyed. (-23) During maneuvering for landing the aircraft stalled and crashed. 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.