# NTSB LAX89LA145: Let L-13, N82756, Hemet, CA, April 1, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 1, 1989, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Hemet, CA
- Location: 33.7340° N, 117.0223° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at HEMET-RYAN (HMT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7340&lon=-117.0223&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 19, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26366
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA145
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26366/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA145

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE CREW COORDINATION BETWEEN THE GROUND LINEMAN AND THE BLANIK PILOT,  AND FAILURE OF THE  BLANIK PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE PARKED GLIDER.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PROXIMITY OF THE PARKED GLIDER TO THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, ground personnel (cause)
  - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE RGT WING OF BLANIK L-13, N82756, HIT THE LEFT WING OF ANOTHER GLIDER (LS-1), WHICH WAS PARKED NEAR THE RGT EDGE OF THE RWY, AS THE BLANIK WAS STARTING TO BE LAUNCHED BEHIND A TOW PLANE. ACCORDING TO THE WING WALKER, HE HAD HOOKED THE TOW ROPE TO THE BLANIK & WAS LIFTING THE (RGT) WING, WHEN HE REALIZED THE LS-1 WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE RWY. HE SAID HE PUT THE WING DOWN & SHOUTED FOR A RELEASE AS HE HAD BEEN TAUGHT, BUT THE BLANIK PLT FANNED THE RUDDER TO SIGNAL THE TOW PLT FOR THE LAUNCH TO BEGIN. ACCORDING TO THE BLANIK PLT, THE WING WALKER HAD RAISED THE WING (A SIGNAL TO BGN THE LAUNCH), THEN TRIED TO STOP THE LAUNCH, BUT DID NOT USE THE PROPER 'CUT' SIGNAL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LAUNCH BEGAN & THE BLANIK VEERED SLIGHTLY RGT & HIT THE LS-1 BEFORE THE BLANIK PLT RELEASED THE TOW ROPE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82756](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82756-2012-02-25), registration cancelled 2012-02-25, S/N 025511, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LET 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
- Serial number: 025511
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sailplane Enterprise
- Registered owner: Pearson, Russell O.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: HMT, Hemet-Ryan, runway 22, 2,045 × 20 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: front; flight hours: 625 total, 58 in this make and model, 625 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F

## 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 19890401005969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890401005969A), Apr 1, 1989: Let L13BLANIK, Hemet, CA, Substantial damage. Wingman pushed gliders wing down on initial tow run. Pilot lost control and veered into a parked glider.

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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