# NTSB DEN84FA161: Let L-13, N48032, Edgewood, NM, May 26, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 26, 1984, 12:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place: Edgewood, NM
- Coordinates: 35.079563, -106.169349 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0796&lon=-106.1693&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16216
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA161
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16216/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA161

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command
  - altitude - excessive, pilot in command
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - aircraft parked/standing
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT APPEARED TO BE TOO HIGH, TOO FAST, AND IN A CRAB AS IT APPROACHED THE RWY. OVER THE RWY THE GLIDER WAS OBSERVED TO ROLL INTO A RIGHT TURN AS THE NOSE CAME UP. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE RIGHT WING STRUCK 3 PARKED ACFT AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. DURING AN INTERVIEW ON THE EVENING OF THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO A HIGH FAST APCH HE ATTEMPTED A RIGHT 270 DEGREE TURN IN ORDER TO LAND TO THE NORTH, JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT SUBMITTED ON 6-25-84 THE PILOT REFERS TO CONTROL INPUTS FROM THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT CAUSING THE ABNORMAL APPROACH AND AN UNCOMMANDED NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE JUST BEFORE COLLISION WITH THE PARKED GLIDER. THE PILOTS LOGS REFLECT 3 HRS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL GLIDER. HE STATED THAT HE HAD FLOWN SIMILIAR GLIDERS IN THE LATE 1960'S AND HAD ABOUT 3.5 TOTAL HRS IN THE ACFT. HE FURTHER REPORTED TO INVESTIGATORS THAT HE WAS USED TO FLYING ANOTHER GLIDER IN WHICH 90 DEGREE FLAPS ALLOWED STEEPER APPROACHES AND MORE RAPID DESCENTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48032](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48032-2014-10-14), registration cancelled 2014-10-14, S/N 026035, built 1974 (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: 026035
- Airframe hours: 1245
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: New Mexico Soaring Ranch
- Registered owner: Etchison G. Lill
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 10, 1984, 9 hours before
- Departed: EDGEWOOD, NM
- Airport: New Mexico Soaring Ranch, runway 9, 5,280 × 400 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 3,224 total, 4 in this make and model, 2,770 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ, 27 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 19840526034809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840526034809A), May 26, 1984: Let L13BLANIK, Edgewood, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Overshot landing and struck parked aircraft 77MA, 74830 and 2802H. PIC did not show evidence of currency in blanik.

## Other investigations on N48032 (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 FTW82FQA18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FQA18), May 8, 1982: Blanik L-13 (N48032), Los Lunas, NM, substantial damage, 1 fatal

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.