# NTSB SEA08CA163: Let Blanik L-13, N48029, Arlington, WA, July 21, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 20, 2008, 17:20 local (Jul 21, 2008, 00:20 UTC) - Place: Arlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.160831, -122.158889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1608&lon=-122.1589&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 68514 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68514/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68514 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA163 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree while making an off-field landing in a glider. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting winds. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Let BLANIK L-13, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=1360306), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Let BLANIK L-13, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=1360306), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Let BLANIK L-13, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=1360306), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Let BLANIK L-13, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1360306), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Let BLANIK L-13, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1360306), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After a 15-minute glider flight, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for a planned full-stop landing on a grass airstrip that ran adjacent to the active paved runway. He then extended his downwind leg in order to create a greater clearance between himself and a powered airplane that was landing on the paved runway. After rolling out on base leg, the pilot realized that he had extended his downwind leg too far to reach the grass strip under the gusting wind conditions. He therefore decided to land in a field short of the grass runway. While maneuvering to land in that field, he failed to maintain clearance from a nearby tree. After the wing of the glider hit the tree, it cart-wheeled into the field, and sustained wrinkling and crushing damage to both wings and fuselage. ## Factual narrative After a fifteen minute glider flight, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for a planned full-stop landing on a grass airstrip that ran adjacent to the active paved runway. He then extended his downwind leg in order to create a greater clearance between himself and a powered airplane that was landing on the paved runway. After rolling out on base leg, the pilot realized that he had extended his downwind leg too far to reach the grass strip under the current gusting wind conditions. He therefore decided to land in a field short of the grass runway. While maneuvering to land in that field, he failed to maintain clearance from a nearby tree. After the wing of the glider hit the tree, it cart wheeled into the field, and sustained wrinkling and crushing damage to both its wings and fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48029](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48029-2017-06-07), registration cancelled 2017-06-07, S/N 026050, built 1974 (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) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 026050 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Evergreen Soaring - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KAWO, Arlington, WA - Destination: KAWO - Airport: KAWO, Arlington Municipal, runway 34, 5,300 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; flight hours: 30,000 total, 26 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 20080720857599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080720857599A), Jul 20, 2008: Let BLANIK L-13, Arlington, WA, Substantial damage. On July 20, 2008 about 1730 pacific daylight time, a blanik L-13 glider, N48029 was substantially damaged when it impacted the terrain while trying to land at… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68514. 615 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 615 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=243580&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20NTSB%20Form%2061201-Rel.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.