# NTSB SEA07LA101: Let Blanik L-13, N101JJ, Llano, CA, April 13, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 13, 2007, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Llano, CA - Coordinates: 34.495834, -117.829444 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4958&lon=-117.8294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Van Nuys FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65609 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65609/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA101 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The failure of the other pilot to maintain directional control during landing roll. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), standing - directional control - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) In a written statement, the student pilot reported that he was landing his glider, a LET Blanik L-13 on 25L, while another glider, a DG 505 was positioned on 25R approximately 1000 feet from the departure end of the runway. The DG 505 was hooked to a tow plane and waiting for takeoff on runway 25R. The Blanik L-13 made a normal landing on runway 25L with a touchdown point 500 feet from the end of the runway. During the landing roll, the glider veered to the right and collided with the DG 505 before coming to a stop. The right wing of the Blanik L-13 impacted the left wingtip of the DG 505. The flight instructor in the DG 505 stated in a written report: "there was ample room (for landing), but the pilot made the mistake of looking at the obstruction (me), rather than ahead up the runway." A post accident inspection revealed substantial damage to the Blanik L-13, including distorted wing skins, detached wing attachments and bent bulkheads in the fuselage. The minor damage to the DG 505 was contained to a detachable wing tip. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) In a written statement, the student pilot reported that he was landing his glider, a LET Blanik L-13, on 25L, while another glider, a DG 505 was positioned on 25R approximately 1000 feet from the departure end of the runway. The DG 505 was hooked to a tow plane and waiting for takeoff on runway 25R. The Blanik L-13 made a normal landing on runway 25L with a touchdown point 500 feet from the end of the runway. During the landing roll, the glider veered to the right and collided with the DG 505 before coming to a stop. The right wing of the Blanik L-13 impacted the left wingtip of the DG 505. The flight instructor in the DG 505 stated in a written report: "there was ample room (for landing), but the pilot made the mistake of looking at the obstruction (me), rather than ahead up the runway." A post accident inspection revealed substantial damage to the Blanik L-13, including distorted wing skins, detached wing attachments and bent bulkheads in the fuselage. The minor damage to the DG 505 was contained to a detachable wing tip. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On April 13, 2007, at 1500 Pacific daylight time, a LET Blanik L-13, N101JJ, operated by Great Western Soaring School collided with a Glaser-Dirks DG 505 Elan, N505TW, during the landing roll at Crystal Airport, Llano, California. The DG 505 was preparing for departure at the time. The Blanik L-13 was flown by a student pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight, while the DG 505 was to be flown by a certified flight instructor, as a sightseeing flight. Neither the student pilot nor the flight instructor was injured. The Blanik L-13 was returning from a flight that originated from Llano about 20 minutes prior to the accident. The Blanik L-13 was substantially damaged while the DG 505 received minor wingtip damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and neither pilot filed a flight plan. The Crystal Airport has a dirt runway 250 feet wide (runway 7/25). Due to the width of the runway, it is common procedure for multiple aircraft to use the runway at one time. Under these conditions, pilots use the designators 25L or 25R for the area of the runway being used. In a written statement, the student pilot reported that he was landing on 25L, with the DG 505 positioned on 25R approximately 1000 feet from the departure end of the runway. The DG 505 was hooked to a tow plane and waiting for takeoff on runway 25R. The Blanik L-13 made a normal landing on runway 25L with a touchdown point 500 feet from the end of the runway. During the landing roll, the glider veered to the right and collided with the DG 505 before coming to a stop. The right wing of the Blanik L-13 impacted the left wingtip of the DG 505. The flight instructor in the DG 505 stated in a written report: "there was ample room (for landing), but the pilot made the mistake of looking at the obstruction (me), rather than ahead up the runway." A post accident inspection revealed substantial damage to the Blanik L-13, including distorted wing skins, detached wing attachments and bent bulkheads in the fuselage. The minor damage to the DG 505 was contained to a detachable wing tip. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On April 13, 2007, at 1500 Pacific daylight time, a LET Blanik L-13, N101JJ, operated by Great Western Soaring School collided with a Glaser-Dirks DG 505 Elan, N505TW, during the landing roll at Crystal Airport, Llano, California. The DG 505 was preparing for departure at the time. The Blanik L-13 was flown by a student pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight, while the DG 505 was to be flown by a certified flight instructor, as a sightseeing flight. Neither the student pilot nor the flight instructor was injured. The Blanik L-13 was returning from a flight that originated from Llano about 20 minutes prior to the accident. The Blanik L-13 was substantially damaged while the DG 505 received minor wingtip damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and neither pilot filed a flight plan. The Crystal Airport has a dirt runway 250 feet wide (runway 7/25). Due to the width of the runway, it is common procedure for multiple aircraft to use the runway at one time. Under these conditions, pilots use the designators 25L or 25R for the area of the runway being used. In a written statement, the student pilot reported that he was landing on 25L, with the DG 505 positioned on 25R approximately 1000 feet from the departure end of the runway. The DG 505 was hooked to a tow plane and waiting for takeoff on runway 25R. The Blanik L-13 made a normal landing on runway 25L with a touchdown point 500 feet from the end of the runway. During the landing roll, the glider veered to the right and collided with the DG 505 before coming to a stop. The right wing of the Blanik L-13 impacted the left wingtip of the DG 505. The flight instructor in the DG 505 stated in a written report: "there was ample room (for landing), but the pilot made the mistake of looking at the obstruction (me), rather than ahead up the runway." A post accident inspection revealed substantial damage to the Blanik L-13, including distorted wing skins, detached wing attachments and bent bulkheads in the fuselage. The minor damage to the DG 505 was contained to a detachable wing tip. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N101JJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N101JJ-2016-08-22), registration cancelled 2016-08-22, S/N 025301, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LET Blanik L-13 - Registry model: [Let BLANIK L-13](https://openairdocs.org/model/let-blanik-l-13) (registry code 1360306) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 625301 - Airframe hours: 2832 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Henrich G Brigentoff, doing business as Great Western Soaring School - Registered owner: Frederick J. Robinson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2007 - Departed: 46CN, Llano, CA - Destination: 46CN, Llano, CA - Airport: 46CN, Crystal Airport, runway 25, 4,500 × 250 ft, dirt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N505TW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N505TW-2010-01-12), registration cancelled 2010-01-12, S/N 5E182X33 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Glaser-Dirks DG 505 Elan - Registry model: [Glaser-Dirks DG 500 ELAN](https://openairdocs.org/model/glaser-dirks-dg-500-elan) (registry code 3802553) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 5EA82X33 - Airframe hours: 2903 - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2007 - Departed: 46CN, Llano, CA - Destination: 46CN, Llano, CA - Airport: 46CN, Crystal Airport, runway 25, 4,500 × 250 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot, aircraft N101JJ; age 63; injuries: none; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 68 total, 5 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N505TW; age 56; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; last flight review August 1, 2006; seat: rear; flight hours: 11,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: PMD, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070413006531A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070413006531A), Apr 13, 2007: Let L13BLANIK, Llano, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 13, 2007 N101JJ a blanik L-13 glider was landing after a solo student flight. Upon touch down and roll out on a parallel dirt runway the pilot… - [Accident 20070413006722A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070413006722A), Apr 13, 2007: Glaser DG500ELANORI, Llano, CA, Minor damage. (-23) On April 13, 2007 N101JJ a blanik L-13 glider was landing after a solo student flight. Upon touch down and roll out on a parallel dirt runway the pilot… ## Other investigations on N101JJ (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 FTW77DPJ18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW77DPJ18), May 8, 1977: Blanik L-13 (N101JJ), Guymon, OK, substantial damage 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.