# NTSB MIA98LA023: Let L-13, N65140, Elkin, NC, November 1, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 1, 1997, 15:21 local (20:21 UTC) - Place: Elkin, NC - Coordinates: 36.249687, -80.840873 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2497&lon=-80.8409&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38425 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38425/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA023 ## Probable cause The instructor's pilot's misjudgment of altitude and distance, and his inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. Unfavorable winds and a fence were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with object, approach - object - fence ## Analysis The instructor pilot stated that while on final approach to runway 20, the student encountered both an increase in headwinds and a sink condition. Noticing a loss of altitude, the student voiced doubt they would make the runway, and the instructor pilot took control of the glider. The instructor quickly considered and then rejected a cow pasture, and then continued his approach to runway 20. The glider collided with an airport perimeter fence, short of the runway. ## Factual narrative On November 1, 1997, about 1521 eastern standard time, a Let Blanik L-13, N65140, registered to a private individual, operated by Southern Soaring, Inc., as a 14 CFR 91 instructional flight, crashed in the vicinity of Swan Creek Airport, Elkin, North Carolina, while on final approach to runway 20. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The glider sustained substantial damage. The certified flight instructor, (CFI) and rated commercial pilot student reported no injuries. The flight departed the same airport about 1509. The CFI stated that the student had flown seven to eight instructional flights with a least two other instructors, and was close to soloing. Previously, the student had "bounced" a landing, so the training emphasis this flight was to be towed flight and landing touchdown. The student's turn to final approach put them about 2,000 feet from the runway threshhold, on speed, on centerline, and about 100 feet high; high enough, in fact, that the CFI remembers considering that to be an opportune time to demonstrate the sideslip maneuver, but reconsidered. In quick succession the glider went low, the student voiced doubt they would make the runway, the CFI took control, quickly considered and rejected a cow pasture, and collided with an airport perimeter fence short of the runway. The tow pilot compared landing to takeoff conditions as, "higher winds from the south, heavy sink, and turbulence". The CFI said, "...winds picked up...160, 170 to 210" (degrees), "...15 gusting to 20" (knots) and he ".. encountered sink, but little turbulence". ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65140](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65140-2023-06-17), registration cancelled 2023-06-17, S/N 026358, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Let L-13 - 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: 026358 - Airframe hours: 2329 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wilson Brown - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 7, 1997, 56 hours before - Departed: 78A - Airport: 78A, Swan Creek Airport, runway 20, 1,700 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; flight instructor, commercial; seat: rear; flight hours: 226 total, 22 in this make and model, 188 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: INT, 32 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 19971101040839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971101040839A), Nov 1, 1997: Let L13BLANIK, Jonesville, NC, Substantial damage. Became too low on final. Struck perimeter fence short of runway. Blamed high wind turbulence and high sink rate. (-23) instructor and student on training… 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.