# NTSB FTW79FRA09: Blanik L-13, N100GH, Cypress, TX, March 18, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: March 18, 1979
- Place: Cypress, TX · CYPRESS, TX
- Location: 29.9691° N, 95.6972° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cypress, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9691&lon=-95.6972&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137558
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FRA09
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FRA09

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0533  79/3/18    CYPRESS,TX          BLANIK L-13         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 17, 121
        TIME - 1239                    N100GH              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 90 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CYPRESS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CYPRESS,TX                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIN                                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     170
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           15                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PILOT EXPERIENCED EARLY RELEASE OF GLIDER TOW ROPE AT 250 AGL. WIND GUSTING ABOUT 30KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N100GH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N100GH-1981-06-01), registration cancelled 1981-06-01, S/N 026846 (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: Cypress

## 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 19790318004929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790318004929A), Mar 18, 1979: Let L13BLANIK, Cypress, TX, Substantial damage. Glider in tow released prematurely. Pilot stalled glider in attempt to return to runway.

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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