# NTSB MIA06CA060: Let L13 AC Blanik, N4413, Zephyrhills, FL, March 5, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 5, 2006, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Zephyrhills, FL
- Coordinates: 28.228055, -82.022781
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2281&lon=-82.0228&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Tampa, Florida
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63322
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA06CA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63322/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA06CA060

## Probable cause

The pilot's encounter with downdraft.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - weather condition - downdraft (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he entered the traffic pattern at 1,000 ft AGL, and at a 45-degree angle. Shortly after announcing the turn to base he said the glider encountered a "strong sink", and he was unable to clear the tree tops at the end of the runway. The left wing hit a tree top, and the glider fell, short of the runway on level ground, incurring damage. According to the pilot, there were no preaccident anomalies associated with the glider.

## Factual narrative

On March 5, 2006, about 1730 eastern standard time, a LET, model L13 AC Blanik glider, N4413, registered to and operated by Tampa Bay Soaring, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, made a hard landing at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. Visual meteorological  conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. the commercial-rated glider pilot was not injured, and the passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated in Zephyrhills, Florida, the same day, about 1700.

The pilot stated that he entered the traffic pattern at 1,000 ft AGL, and at a 45-degree angle. Shortly after announcing the turn to base he said the glider encountered a "strong sink", and he was unable to clear the tree tops at the end of the runway. The left wing hit a tree top, and the glider fell, short of the runway on level ground, incurring damage. According to the pilot, there were no preaccident anomalies associated with the glider.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4413](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4413-2017-04-07), registration cancelled 2017-04-07, S/N 175108 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LET L13 AC Blanik
- Registry model: [Let L13 AC BLANIK](https://openairdocs.org/model/let-l13-ac-blanik) (registry code 1360312) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 175108
- Airframe hours: 2977
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tampa Bay Soaring Society
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2005
- Departed: ZPH, Zephyrhills, FL
- Destination: ZPH
- Airport: ZPH, Zephyrhills Municipal, runway 36, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial; seat: rear; flight hours: 331 total, 8 in this make and model, 85 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: TPA, 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 20060305011929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060305011929A), Mar 5, 2006: Let L13ACBLANIK, Zephyrhills, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 5, 2006 at 1730 EDT, a Let L13 glider, N4413, registered to tampa bay soaring society, made a hard landing at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. The…

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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