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NTSB investigations: Let BLANIK L-13, CA

22 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Let BLANIK L-13. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

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19712026

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Query with SQL

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'CA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1360306')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'CA' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1360306'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'CA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1360306'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB WPR10CA015Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportLet Blanik L-13 · Llano, CAThe student pilot's improper use of the airbrakes while on approach for landing.Oct 11, 2009 · N948LC · Substantial damage NTSB LAX08CA003Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportLet Blanik L-13 · Hemet, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate due to his failure to close the air brake and/or partially retract the flaps during an encounter with lost lift on final approach.Oct 6, 2007 · N510CS · Substantial damage NTSB SEA07LA101Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLet Blanik L-13 · Llano, CAThe failure of the other pilot to maintain directional control during landing roll.Apr 13, 2007 · N101JJ · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage NTSB LAX99LA228Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLet Blanik L-13 · Barstow, CAThe loss of thermal lift that resulted in a forced landing and the pilot's improper glide path that resulted in a collision with a light pole.Jun 19, 1999 · N136AS · Substantial damage NTSB LAX97LA165Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLet Blanik L-13 · Hemet, CAthe pilot's failure to adjust his traffic pattern to compensate for local atmospheric conditions.Apr 19, 1997 · N90620 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX91LA349Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLet L-13 · Byron, CAThe on ground collision with a hidden ditch not visible to the pilot during the landing roll out phase of a forced landing.Aug 4, 1991 · N53AS · Substantial damage NTSB LAX89LA145Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLet L-13 · Hemet, CAInadequate crew coordination between the ground lineman and the blanik pilot, and failure of the blanik pilot to maintain clearance between his aircraft and the parked glider. A factor related to the accident was the proximity of the parked glider to the…Apr 1, 1989 · N82756 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX89LA027Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportLet L-13 · Marana, CAThe pilot reported that shortly after liftoff from runway 26 the control stick became difficult to move. He decided to continue the air tow and release at 200 feet AGL after release, the pilot turned the glider to return to the runway to land. He was still…Oct 29, 1988 · N90848 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX84LA386Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLet L-13 · Llano, CAAccording to the plt, the glider did not sink as fast as expected on the downwind leg, so he extended flaps to 30 to 40 deg, used spoilers & extended the downwind. On base leg he entered an area of high sink; therefore, he closed the spoilers & angled toward…Jul 9, 1984 · N99966 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX84LA091Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLet L-13 · Jacumba, CAThe acft collided with a bush and groundlooped short of the rwy. The wind was unusually strong and the glider plt stated he misjudged its effect and should have flown the base leg closer. The acft landed short of the rwy and ground looped.Dec 3, 1983 · N711KR · Substantial damage NTSB LAX83LA234Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLet L-13 · California City, CADuring flt, the glider sustained in-flt structural damage while maneuvering at an altitude of aprx 17,500 ft MSL in the vicinity of California City, CA. During a preliminary verbal statement to an FAA inspector, the plt stated that he had done a couple of…Apr 2, 1983 · N99965 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX82DVG32Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportBlanik L-13 · Chico, CAThe glider pilot reported that after he disengaged from the aerial tow, he was unable to find any of the expected conditions of lift. As altitude was lost, he elected to land in a vineyard. During the landing, the glider was damaged and the pilot received a…Aug 28, 1982 · N66JP · Substantial damage NTSB LAX82DA254Accident · No injuriesFinal reportBlanik L-13 · Murrieta, CAPilot landed short of runway in a glider and impacted the ground at high speed with high sink rate. He had released early from an aerotow and descended at high airspeed with dive brakes open which accelerated his rate of sink. He was not injured in the…Jul 11, 1982 · N90639 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX81FVD19Accident · Minor injuriesClosedBlanik L-13 · Fremont, CAApr 12, 1981 · N53AS · Substantial damage NTSB LAX80FUG49Accident · Minor injuriesClosedBlanik L-13 · Adelanto, CAJul 26, 1980 · N3465 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX78DUM18Accident · No injuriesClosedBlanik L-13 · San Diego, CAApr 7, 1978 · N125DW · Substantial damage NTSB OAK78DVD25Accident · Serious injuriesClosedBlanik L13 · Fremont, CAApr 2, 1978 · N99861 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX78FUG03Accident · No injuriesClosedLet-Np-K L-13 · Perris, CAOct 14, 1977 · N99963 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX76DUQ30Accident · No injuriesClosedLet-Np-K L-13 · California Cty, CAFeb 28, 1976 · N3463 · Substantial damage NTSB OAK73DVG09Accident · No injuriesClosedBlanik L-13 · Angwin, CAAug 5, 1972 · N3457 · Substantial damage NTSB OAK72FVD52Accident · Serious injuriesClosedBlanik L-13 · Fremont, CAJun 12, 1972 · N3464 · Destroyed NTSB LAX72DUG19Accident · No injuriesClosedBlanik L-13 · San Jacinto, CAOct 1, 1971 · N11PX · Substantial damage