# NTSB FTW99LA243: Let Blanik L-13, N3255Y, Jonesboro, AR, August 30, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 30, 1999, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Jonesboro, AR
- Coordinates: 35.819126, -90.680183 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8191&lon=-90.6802&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47214
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA243
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47214/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA243

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudgment of distance/altitude during the final approach to landing, resulting in an undershoot, and collision with a power line pole.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - pole
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

The glider struck a power line support pole while on final approach for landing at a private airstrip.  According to the pilot, the glider encountered a high rate of sink on  final approach.  He retracted the spoilers and flaps, and thought he was going to clear the power lines.  However, the glider impacted the power line support pole with the right wing, and fell to the ground.

## Factual narrative

On August 30, 1999, approximately 1800 central daylight time, a Let Blanik L-13 glider, N3255Y, was substantially damaged when it impacted a power line support pole and terrain while on final approach to the Classic Airstrip near Jonesboro, Arkansas.  The commercial pilot and his passenger were seriously injured.  The glider was registered to the Classic Soaring Club of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and operated by the pilot.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.  The local flight originated at 1745.

During a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that he was "initially too high on final approach."  He deployed the spoilers and flaps to lose some of the altitude.  On short final, the glider encountered an "unexpected high rate of sink."  The pilot added that he immediately retracted the spoilers and flaps and thought he "was going to clear the power lines," which ran across final approach.  However, the glider impacted the power line support pole and fell to the ground.  The glider came to rest upright facing the opposite direction from its final approach.

According to the FAA inspector, who visited the accident site, the glider's right wing was broken about 5 feet inboard from the tip, and the fuselage area aft of the cockpit was buckled.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3255Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3255Y-2005-11-16), registration cancelled 2005-11-16, S/N 026304, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Let BLANIK L-13 (BLANIK L-1)
- 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: 026304
- Airframe hours: 1050
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sammie V. Wood
- Registered owner: Classic Soaring Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 18, 1998, 51 hours before
- Departed: NONE, AR
- Airport: Classic Airstrip, runway 36, 2,600 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 3,061 total, 7 in this make and model, 67 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JBR, 18 nm away

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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