# NTSB MIA99LA193: Let Blanik L-13, N90842, Monroe, GA, July 10, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 1999, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Monroe, GA - Coordinates: 33.790729, -83.709815 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7907&lon=-83.7098&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46812 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46812/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA193 ## Probable cause the pilot-in command's improper handling and inflight decisions resulting in an undershoot of the intended landing runway. The pilot-in-command then failed to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall and the right wingtip impacting the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) - stall - encountered, pilot in command(cfi) ## Analysis The glider landed in a filed north of the runway about 2,000 feet short of the intended touchdown point. According to the Certified flight instructor (CFI), pilot-in-command, the aircraft entered a left base for runway 21, and turned final about 3-4,000 feet from the runway, at an altitude of about 800 agl. He instructed the student pilot to deploy the spoilers in order to get down to glideslope, and maintained pattern speed of 50 knots. The CFI took control of the glider. He said the glider started to sink fast, and the airspeed was 43 knots. The spoilers were closed, but the CFI said, '...we were too low to make the runway...I made a descending right turn while deploying the spoilers and slowing...the only option was a small pasture less then 300 feet long with...trees at the far end and a ditch...I stalled at about 2-3 feet above the ground with the right wing slightly down, still turning. The plane pivoted around the right wing tip and stopped in about 60 feet.' ## Factual narrative On July 10, 1999, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Let Blanik L-13 glider, N90842, registered to the Mid Georgia Soaring Association Inc., collided with the terrain while on approach to the Monroe-Walton County Airport, Monroe, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 local instructional flight. The glider was substantially damaged. The commercial-rated pilot, certified flight instructor (CFI), and private-rated student pilot reported no injuries. The flight had departed from the same airport at 1345. The glider was on approach to runway 21, and landed about 2,000 feet short of the intended touchdown point, in a field north of the runway. According to the CFI, at an altitude of about 1,000-1,100 agl [above ground level]. The flight entered a left base for runway 21. He felt they were possibly going to be low of if they had entered at mid field. He stated, "...we turned final about 3-4,000 feet from intended landing about 800 agl...I required [the student pilot] to deploy spoilers and get down to glideslope and maintain pattern speed (50 knots). At about this time I took over the flying. At 2,000 feet [from the runway] we started to sink fast. After a few seconds I noticed the airspeed to be 43 knots. Spoilers were closed and stuck forward, but we were too low to make the runway over the powerlines. I made a descending right turn while deploying the spoilers and slowing...the only option was a small pasture less then 300 feet long with pecan trees at the far end and a ditch across the south half of it. I stalled at about 2-3 feet above the ground with the right wing slightly down, still turning. The plane pivoted around the right wing tip and stopped in about 60 feet." The FAA's report indicated that this was an instructional flight and that after being released from the tow plane the pilot performed a 360-degree turn and headed back to the airport to enter a base leg. According to the FAA's report, "...[the] instructor then stated that he saw that they were not going to make the airport. And landed in a field approximately 2,000 feet short of the runway...the glider...impacted the ground in a high rate of sink with spoilers deployed...instructors misuse of glider airspeed, energy, and altitude awareness caused the aircraft to undershoot the runway and land off airport. Instructors misuse of spoilers caused the aircraft to impact the ground in a high rate of sink...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90842](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90842-2013-03-18), registration cancelled 2013-03-18, S/N 025630, built 1973 (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: 025306 - Airframe hours: 1000 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mid Georgia Soaring Assoc Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 1999, 5 hours before - Departed: D73 - Airport: D73, Monroe Walton County, runway 21, 3,300 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,047 total, 140 in this make and model, 851 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ATL ## 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 19990710045949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990710045949A), Jul 10, 1999: Monroe, GA, No damage. (-23) Instructor stated that the instructional flight departed under aero tow from Monroe airport and released at 2,000 feet MSL, with a broken cloud layer… 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.