# NTSB LAX99LA228: Let Blanik L-13, N136AS, Barstow, CA, June 19, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 19, 1999, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Barstow, CA
- Location: 34.8986° N, 117.0228° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Barstow, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8986&lon=-117.0228&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 14, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 46640
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA228
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46640/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA228

## Probable cause

The loss of thermal lift that resulted in a forced landing and the pilot's improper glide path that resulted in a collision with a light pole.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - no thermal lift (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - pole
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

During a cross-country flight, the pilot of the glider encountered a loss of thermal lift.  A forced landing was made to a vacant, unattended, interstate highway rest stop.  The rest stop was surrounded by level terrain.  During the landing approach, the left wing contacted a light pole, shearing off the wing's outboard 6 feet.

## Factual narrative

On June 19, 1999, at 1500 hours Pacific daylight time, a Blanik L-13, N136AS, collided with ground obstructions during a off-field landing 38 miles east of Barstow, California.  The glider, operated by Antelope Valley Soaring Club, Canoga Park, California, sustained substantial damage.  The commercial pilot, and sole occupant, was not injured.  The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed from a private airstrip at 1230.  Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan was filed.

In a written statement by the pilot, he was on a cross-country flight to Baker, California, and encountered a loss of lift, which made it impossible to make it to an airport.  The glider was over level terrain and the pilot selected an off-field landing point located in a rest area along interstate I-15.  The glider impacted a pole during the landing, causing the left wing to separate from the glider.  The rest area was closed and no one was present at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N136AS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N136AS-2015-05-20), registration cancelled 2015-05-20, S/N 027017, built 1978 (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: 027017
- Airframe hours: 3491
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Antelope Valley Soaring Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 1998, 375 hours before
- Departed: DAG, DAGGETT, CA
- Destination: 0O2, BAKER, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; flight instructor, student, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 738 total, 561 in this make and model, 708 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °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 19990619024129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990619024129A), Jun 19, 1999: Let L13BLANIK, Barstow, CA, Substantial damage. (.19) On June 19, 1999, at 1500 hours pacific daylight time, a blanik L-13, N136AS, collided with ground obstructions during a off-field landing 38 miles east…

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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