# NTSB MIA92LA191: Let L-13, N90861, New Smyrna Bch, FL, September 26, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 26, 1992, 11:08 local (15:08 UTC)
- Place: New Smyrna Bch, FL
- Location: 28.9933° N, 80.9268° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from MASSEY RANCH AIRPARK (X50), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9933&lon=-80.9268&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33144
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA92LA191
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33144/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92LA191

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. THE DOWNDRAFT WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE WIND WAS FROM SOUTH AT 12 KTS. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 18, ON PROPER GLIDEPATH, THE GLIDER BEGAN TO DESCEND. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR TREES JUST PRIOR TO THE RUNWAY AND THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH THE TREES, AND DESCENDED NOSE FIRST TO THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90861](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90861-1993-11-18), registration cancelled 1993-11-18, S/N 025722 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LET L-13
- Registry model: [Let L-13 BLANIK](https://openairdocs.org/model/let-l-13-blanik) (registry code 1360305) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 025722
- Airframe hours: 900
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Precision Soaring, Inc.
- Registered owner: Precision Soaring, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 5, 1992, 91 hours before
- Departed: X50
- Airport: X50, Massey Ranch Airpark, runway 18, 4,300 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 812 total, 7 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 175° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAB, 14 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 19920926038849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920926038849A), Sep 26, 1992: Let L13BLANIK, New Smyrna Beac, FL, Substantial damage. Downdraft on final. Struck trees and crashed.

## Other investigations on N90861 (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC78FHA39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FHA39), Sep 23, 1978: Blanik L-3 (N90861), Pittstown, NJ, destroyed, 1 fatal

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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