# NTSB DEN7LAD008: Blanik L-13, N9915, Aspen, CO, August 9, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 9, 1975
- Place: Aspen, CO · ASPEN, CO
- Location: 39.1952° N, 106.8368° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Aspen, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1952&lon=-106.8368&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 150163
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN7LAD008
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN7LAD008

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2405   75/8/9    ASPEN,CO            BLANIK L-13         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 34, 56 TOTAL
        TIME - 1415                    N9915               PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 28 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PITKIN COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ASPEN,CO                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE IN FLIGHT,CLEAR AIR
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      82
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          260                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RT WING MAIN SPAR FITTING OVERLOAD FRACTURE. MDT TO SEVERE TURB RPTD BY OTR PLTS. NO G METER ABD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9915](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9915-1975-10-14), registration cancelled 1975-10-14, S/N 173630 (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)
- Category: Glider
- Engines: none
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Pitkin County

## 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 19750809027849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750809027849A), Aug 9, 1975: Let L13BLANIK, Aspen, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Rt wing main spar fitting overload fracture. MDT to severe turb rptd by otr plts. No g meter abd.

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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