# NTSB LAX97LA165: Let Blanik L-13, N90620, Hemet, CA, April 19, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 19, 1997, 14:42 local (21:42 UTC)
- Place: Hemet, CA
- Location: 33.7406° N, 117.0068° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from HEMET-RYAN (HMT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7406&lon=-117.0068&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29776
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29776/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA165

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to adjust his traffic pattern to compensate for local atmospheric conditions.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - fence

## Analysis

The aircraft landed approximately 1 statute mile short of the runway in soft, rough terrain, and hit a fence after landing.  A glider pilot who had landed previously stated that she had encountered a large area of sinking air on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern.

## Factual narrative

On April 19, 1997, at 1442 hours Pacific daylight time, a Blanik L-13 glider, N90620, collided with the ground approximately 1 statute mile short of the Hemet-Ryan glider port in Hemet, California.  The aircraft incurred substantial damage when it impacted a fence after landing, and the private pilot received serious injuries.  The flight originated at the Hemet-Ryan airport at approximately 1350 on a planned 1-hour local flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight.

A glider pilot who had previously landed at Hemet-Ryan stated that she had encountered a large area of sinking air on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90620](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90620-1998-01-26), registration cancelled 1998-01-26, S/N 025616 (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)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 025616
- Airframe hours: 2160
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Orange County Soaring Assn
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, July 21, 1996, 146 hours before
- Departed: HMT
- Airport: HMT, Hemet-Ryan

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 75; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; flight hours: 183 total, 17 in this make and model, 140 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KRA, 28 nm away

## 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 19970419006229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970419006229A), Apr 19, 1997: Let L13BLANIK, Hemet, CA, Substantial damage. High sink on final. Impacted 1 mile short of glider port.

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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