Let L-13 N90848

Summary

On 29 October 1988 at about 19:20 local time, a Let L-13 registered N90848 was involved in an accident near Marana, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

29 October 1988 at 19:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Marana, California, United States

Nearest airport

El Tiro

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Let L-13

Registration

N90848

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89LA027

1 person died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE 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 HAVING DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE GLIDER AND FELT THAT THE PASSENGER, WHO WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT, MIGHT HAVE BEEN HOLDING THE FORWARD CONTROL STICK. THE PILOT INSTRUCTED THE PASSENGER TO RELEASE THE STICK. CONTROL WAS MOMENTARILY REGAINED THEN LOST AGAIN. THE PILOT COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE GLIDER AND IT COLLIDED WITH RUNWAY 08. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PROBLEMS WITH THE GLIDER'S CONTROL MECHANISMS. AN EXAMINATION OF ANOTHER BLANIK L-13 INDICATED THAT VERY LITTLE FORCE IS NEEDED ON THE FORWARD CONTROL STICK TO RENDER THE REAR STICK INEFFECTIVE. THE FLIGHT WAS THE PASSENGER'S FIRST IN SMALL AIRCRAFT AND WAS PART OF THERAPY BEING USED TO TREAT THE PASSENGER FOR A MILD ORGANIC BRAIN SYNDROME.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.