# NTSB LAX81FVD19: Blanik L-13, N53AS, Fremont, CA, April 12, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: April 12, 1981
- Place: Fremont, CA · FREMONT, CA
- Location: 37.5483° N, 121.9886° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fremont, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5483&lon=-121.9886&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 20, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126159
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FVD19
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FVD19

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0624  81/4/12    FREMONT,CA          BLANIK L-13         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1145                    N53AS               PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     AGE 30, 411 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            32 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CALISTOGA,CA                FREMONT,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: DIRT BANK                                 LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIDDEN OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          HAZE                                                     100
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           7                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- ENCTRD STRONG DWNDFT ON BASE LEG OF TFC PAT.HIT LOW EMBANKMENTS IN UNMOWED FLD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N53AS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53AS-2021-10-30), registration cancelled 2021-10-30, S/N 027057, built 1977 (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)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Sky Sailing

## 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 19810412018199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810412018199A), Apr 12, 1981: Let L13BLANIK, Fremont, CA, Substantial damage. Glider pilot misjudged aproach to runway, impacted embankment short of runway. Possible downdraft in area.

## Other investigations on N53AS (2)

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 LAX04CA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA220), May 24, 2004: Let Blanik L-13 (N53AS), Sparks, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's misjudged altitude, distance, and speed, and failure to attain the proper touchdown point, resulting in an overshoot of the runway.
- [NTSB LAX91LA349](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA349), Aug 4, 1991: Let L-13 (N53AS), Byron, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE ON GROUND COLLISION WITH A HIDDEN DITCH NOT VISIBLE TO THE PILOT DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT PHASE OF A FORCED LANDING.

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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