# NTSB NYC78FHA39: Blanik L-3, N90861, Pittstown, NJ, September 23, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 23, 1978
- Place: Pittstown, NJ · PITTSTOWN, NJ
- Location: 40.5820° N, 74.9591° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pittstown, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5820&lon=-74.9591&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 17, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139789
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FHA39
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FHA39

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2959  78/9/23    PITTSTOWN,NJ        BLANIK L-3          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             CERTIFICATE UNKNOWN, AGE
        TIME - 1610                    N90861              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  45, 591 TOTAL HOURS, 236
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SKY MANOR
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PITTSTOWN,NJ                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIN                                              TAKEOFF: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        REMARKS- DURING GLIDER TOW,THE GLIDER WAS REL AT 150 FT.THE GLIDER CONTD CLIMBING RT TURN.STALL SPIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90861](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90861-1993-11-18), registration cancelled 1993-11-18, S/N 025722 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BLANIK L-3
- Registry model: [Let L-13 BLANIK](https://openairdocs.org/model/let-l-13-blanik) (registry code 1360305) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Engines: none
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Sky Manor

## 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 19780923029549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780923029549A), Sep 23, 1978: Let L13BLANIK, Pittstown, PA, Substantial damage. During glider tow,the glider was rel at 150 ft. the glider contd cing rt turn. Stall spin.

## 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 MIA92LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92LA191), Sep 26, 1992: Let L-13 (N90861), New Smyrna Bch, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. THE DOWNDRAFT WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

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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