- Date
- June 11, 1983, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Maricopa, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N160ASLet L-13
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830611024799A
- Case key
- 23745
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The sailplane collided with a small tree and groundlooped during a precautionary landing. The pilot stated the acft had encountered a high sink rate while gliding at 5000 ft. a ridge was between the pilot and the intended route. The pilot elected to land short of the ridge line in the desert. During the flare for landing the acft's left wing hit a mesquite bush about 8 to 10 ft AGL and spun around. The weather was reported by the pilot as clear with gusty winds and a temperature of 105 degrees f.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N160AS
- Reported as
- Let L-13
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 026939
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Arizona Soaring Association
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 9, 1983 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- E68 · Maricopa, AZ
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 55 total · 6 in this make and model · 37 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 106 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.