# NTSB MIA97LA046: Let Blanik L-13, N48052, Mulberry, FL, December 22, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 22, 1996, 13:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: Mulberry, FL
- Coordinates: 27.900161, -81.969406 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9002&lon=-81.9694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38193
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38193/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA046

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to check that the spoiler handle was locked in the retracted position prior to takeoff.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - spoiler retraction - not verified, pilot in command (cause)
  - spoiler extension - inadvertent
  - proper descent rate - not possible, pilot in command
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The pilot did not verify the spoiler handle was locked in the retracted position prior to takeoff. The spoiler handle was not locked and the spoilers deployed shortly after takeoff. The pilot did not hear the tow pilot and ground personnel radio transmissions informing him his spoilers were extended. The pilot noticed they were flying slow and thought the tow aircraft was having problems. When the tow pilot moved his rudder to signal him about the spoilers being extended he released from the tow plane. The glider descended rapidly and he realized the spoilers were extended. He retracted the spoilers but did not have enough altitude to make it back to the airport. The glider collided with a tree and came to rest in the tree.

## Factual narrative

On December 22, 1996, about 1320 eastern standard time, a Let Blanik L-13, N48052, registered to the Tampa Bay Soaring Society, collided with trees while returning to land at South Lakeland Airpark, Mulberry, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot and his dog were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The glider pilot stated he did not check that the spoiler handle was locked in the spoilers retracted position before takeoff. The spoiler handle was not locked and after takeoff the spoilers deployed. The tow pilot and several people on the ground tried to call him on the radio but he did not hear the transmissions. He knew they were flying slow and he thought the tow plane might be having a problem. When the tow pilot moved his rudder to notify the glider pilot of the spoilers being out, the glider pilot released from the tow plane. The glider pilot turned back toward the airport, but with the spoilers out he descended rapidly and collided with trees about 1/4 mile from the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48052](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48052), registered now, S/N 026103, built 1975 (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: 026103
- Airframe hours: 920
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tampa Bay Soaring Society
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1996, 54 hours before
- Departed: X49

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 320 total, 140 in this make and model, 260 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAL, 5 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 19961222039699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961222039699A), Dec 22, 1996: Let L13BLANIK, Mulberry, FL, Substantial damage. Failed to stow spoilers for glider tow. They deployed. Glider pilot cut lose from tow but hit trees short runway.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.