# NTSB ERA09CA434: Let L13, N66FL, Sparta, NY, August 1, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 1, 2009, 15:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Sparta, NY - Coordinates: 42.560867, -77.689605 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5609&lon=-77.6896&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Rochester FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74423 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA434 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74423/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74423 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA434 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Let L-13 BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1360305), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Let L-13 BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1360305), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Let L-13 BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1360305), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Let L-13 BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1360305), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Let L-13 BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1360305), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot encountered a thermal lift, and climbed to 3,000 feet. He stated in a statement to law enforcement personnel, "I got myself into a spin that I was not sure how to get out of." He further stated, "Somehow I was able to get myself out of that, and was headed back to the airport. This is where it gets vague to me. I think I started into another spin." Another glider pilot who departed 10 to 15 minutes before the student pilot stated he observed the glider about a 1,000 feet or less below him spinning to the left. He made a 360 degree turn looking for the glider and could not see it and figured the pilot recovered from the spin and flew away. Examination of the glider by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the glider collided with the ground in a nose down left wing attitude. The forward cabin area received structural damage, the left wing was pushed aft and the right wing was accelerated forward. The flaps on both wings were extended. The Pilot's Notes for the L-13 Sailplane states, the glider will stall at 30 knots with the flaps extended. No anomalies were noted with the airframe or flight controls. ## Factual narrative The student pilot encountered a thermal lift, and climbed to 3,000 feet. He stated in a statement to law enforcement personnel, "I got myself into a spin that I was not sure how to get out of." He further stated, "Somehow I was able to get myself out of that, and was headed back to the airport. This is where it gets vague to me. I think I started into another spin." Another glider pilot who departed 10 to 15 minutes before the student pilot stated he observed the glider about a 1,000 feet or less below him spinning to the left. He made a 360 degree turn looking for the glider and could not see it and figured the pilot recovered from the spin and flew away. Examination of the glider by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the glider collided with the ground in a nose down left wing attitude. The forward cabin area received structural damage, the left wing was pushed aft and the right wing was accelerated forward. The flaps on both wings were extended. The Pilot's Notes for the L-13 Sailplane states, the glider will stall at 30 knots with the flaps extended. No anomalies were noted with the airframe or flight controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66FL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66FL-2018-03-06), registration cancelled 2018-03-06, S/N 026346, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LET L13 (G) - Registry model: [Let L-13 BLANIK](https://openairdocs.org/model/let-l-13-blanik) (registry code 1360305) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 026346 - Airframe hours: 3944 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: David V. Vanderlinden - Registered owner: Finger Lakes Soaring Club Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 24, 2009, 26 hours before - Departed: DSV, Dansville, NY - Destination: DSV, Dansville, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; student; seat: front; flight hours: 55 total, 21 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: DSV, 2 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 20090801048249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090801048249A), Aug 1, 2009: Let L-13 BLANIK, Sparta, NY, Substantial damage. On August 1, 2009, a student pilot soloing a glider and during a climb entered a stall, recovered and subsequentally entered another stall which resulting an… ## Docket (15 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74423. 12.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317143&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement Moran (item 2, .PDF, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317144&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20Moran-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement Perez (item 3, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316948&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20Perez-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316987&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Flying Club Member Statement (item 5, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flying%20Club%20Member%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Police Report (item 6, .PDF, 470 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316942&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Extract L13 Sailplane (item 7, .PDF, 506 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Extract%20L13%20Sailplane-Master.PDF - Extract Student Pilot Logbook (item 8, .PDF, 385 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316944&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Extract%20Student%20Pilot%20Logbook-Redacted.PDF - Extract Maintenance Records (item 9, .PDF, 532 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316945&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Extract%20Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Left front view of glider. Photo FAA (item 10, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316899&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Left%20front%20view%20of%20glider.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Right front side view. Photo FAA (item 11, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316901&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Right%20front%20side%20view.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Right side view of glider. Photo FAA (item 12, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316902&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Right%20side%20view%20of%20glider.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Rear view of glider. Photo FAA (item 13, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316903&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Rear%20view%20of%20glider.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Rear top view of glider. Photo FAA (item 14, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316904&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Rear%20top%20view%20of%20glider.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 6 - Left side view of glider. Photo FAA (item 15, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20-%20Left%20side%20view%20of%20glider.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF 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.