# NTSB NYC02LA092: Blanik L-13, N711KR, Saratoga Spring, NY, May 5, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 5, 2002, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Saratoga Spring, NY - Coordinates: 43.051109, -73.861114 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0511&lon=-73.8611&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54634 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54634/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54634 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA092 ## Probable cause The glider encountering an unanticipated downdraft, which resulted in insufficient altitude to reach a suitable landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, descent - weather condition - downdraft (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis After flying for approximately 1/2 hour, the flight instructor told the student to proceed back to the airport, and enter the traffic pattern. En route, the glider encountered a "heavy sink." The instructor checked the variometer and noted a 1,000-foot per minute descent. He then told the student to increase airspeed in an attempt to fly out of the sink. The instructor then realized they would not make the airport. He took the controls, and because of insufficient altitude to maneuver, setup for a downwind landing to a softball field. The glider touched down in the field, and the instructor executed a ground loop to the left to avoid hitting a fence. No significant weather was reported for the accident time and location. ## Factual narrative On May 5, 2002, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Blanik L-13 (glider) N711KR, was substantially damaged during an off airport forced landing, near the Saratoga Springs Airport (5B2), Saratoga Springs, New York. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the flight instructor, he and his student boarded the glider, and departed. Once airborne, the glider was towed to 1,500 feet agl, and then was released from the tow-plane about 1-mile east of the airport. After release, the glider continued to climbed to 3,000 feet agl. The student then maneuvered the glider to the south to work several thermals, and then to the northeast. After flying for approximately 1/2 hour, the instructor told the student to proceed back to the airport, and enter the traffic pattern. While en route and approximately 1.4 miles from the airport at 1,300 to 1,400 feet agl, the glider encountered "heavy sink." The instructor checked the variometer and noted a 1,000-foot per minute descent. He then told the student to increase airspeed in an attempt to fly out of the sink. When the glider was approximately 0.7 mile from the airport, the instructor realized they were not going to make the runway. He took the controls, and because of insufficient altitude to maneuver, setup for a downwind landing to a softball field. The glider touched down in the field, and the instructor executed a ground loop to the left to avoid hitting a fence straight on. The right wing struck the fence, and the glider came to a stop. Examination of the glider revealed about 5 feet of the wing had broken off from the impact. The instructor added that the glider had a 28:1 glide ratio and was capable of flying 6.8 miles from an altitude of 1,300 feet agl. A weather observation was taken about 9 minutes before the accident at the Albany International Airport (ALB), Albany, New York, which was located 21 miles to the south of the accident site, and 285 feet msl. According to the observation, the wind was variable at 4 knots, visibility was 10 miles, sky was clear, temperature was 68 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point was 34 degrees Fahrenheit, and the altimeter setting was 30.21 inches of mercury. Another weather observation was taken about 7 minutes before the accident at the Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport (GFL), Glens Falls, New York, which was located 24 miles to the northeast of the accident site, and 328 feet msl. According to the observation, the wind was variable at 5 knots, visibility was 10 miles, sky was clear, temperature was 66 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point was 36 degrees Fahrenheit, and the altimeter setting was 30.19 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N711KR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N711KR-2012-06-28), registration cancelled 2012-06-28, S/N 175127, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Blanik 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: 175127 - Airframe hours: 2242.7 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Tim Hanke - Registered owner: Tim Hanke - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 26, 2002, 10 hours before - Departed: 5B2, Saratoga Spring, NY - Destination: 5B2 - Airport: 5B2, Saratoga Springs ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review July 31, 2002; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,090 total, 200 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, unknown; last flight review March 31, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 250 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: ALB, 187 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 20020505007469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020505007469A), May 5, 2002: Let L13BLANIK, Saratogasprings, NY, No damage. (-23) Glider was approximately 1,300 AGL, 1.4 miles from the approach end of runway 23, when the glider encountered a massive sink rate of 1,000 feet per… ## Other investigations on N711KR (3) 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 SEA91LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91LA147), Jul 1, 1991: Let L-13 (N711KR), Driggs, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE TO THE RUNWAY DURING THE APPROACH AND FAILED TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR LANDING. HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MAKE AND MODEL OF GLIDER WAS… - [NTSB LAX84LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA091), Dec 3, 1983: Let L-13 (N711KR), Jacumba, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW73AF016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73AF016), Nov 5, 1972: Blanik L-13 (N711KR), Friendswood, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 15, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54634. 552 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 465 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436524&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandums for Record (item 2, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40181424&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandums%20for%20Record-Master.PDF 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.