Let L-13 N48069
24 July 1993 · Durango, Colorado, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 24 July 1993 at about 20:50 local time, a Let L-13 registered N48069, operated by St. Clair, Lavern D., was involved in an accident near Durango, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Durango, Colorado, United States
- Nearest airport
- Val Air Gliderport (CD82)
- Coordinates
- 37.2709, -107.8800
- Aircraft
- Let L-13
- Registration
- N48069
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- St. Clair, Lavern D.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN93LA085
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE TOW PLANE PILOT TO WARN THE GLIDER PILOT THAT HE WAS RELEASING THE TOW LINE. A FACTOR WAS: AN INADVERTENT STALL BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
BOTH THE GLIDER AND TOW PLANE PILOTS AGREED THAT IF THE GLIDER WAS AIRBORNE BY MIDFIELD, THE GLIDER PILOT WOULD RELEASE THE TOW. TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL AND THE GLIDER WAS AIRBORNE BEFORE MIDFIELD. THE TOW PLANE PILOT, HOWEVER, ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST OR SHEAR THAT LIFTED THE TOW PLANE, THEN CAUSED IT TO SETTLE TO THE GROUND. HE SENSED HE WAS NOT ACCELERATING AND GAINING ALTITUDE AS HE SHOULD. HE RELEASED THE TOW LINE. THE GLIDER PILOT FOLLOWED THE TOW PLANE TO MAINTAIN PROPER TOW POSITION. AS THE TOW PLANE CLIMBED OUT, HE REALIZED HE HAD BEEN RELEASED AND SAW HIS AIRSPEED DETERIORATING. THE RIGHT WING BEGAN TO STALL AND DROP. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN AN EMPTY PARKING LOT, BUT THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE RAILING OF AN OBSERVATION DECK. THE TOW PLANE PILOT SAID HE FAILED TO WARN THE GLIDER PILOT ABOUT THE TOW RELEASE BECAUSE HE ASSUMED HE WOULD SEE AND FEEL THE RELEASE, AND HE DID NOT WANT TO DISTRACT HIM FROM FLYING AND GLIDER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Let L-13 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 May 1993 | Let L-13 | Elberta, Alabama, United States | Coastal Soaring Associates Inc | No injuries | - |
| 4 May 1992 | Let L-13 | Boynton Beach, Florida, United States | Willis, B.n. | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 Sep 1992 | Let L-13 | New Smyrna Bch, Florida, United States | Precision Soaring, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 Mar 1992 | Let L-13 | Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, United States | Harry C Samuel | No injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1991 | Let L-13 | Byron, California, United States | Ames Soaring Club | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1991 | Let L-13 | Driggs, Idaho, United States | James Ball & Eric Soyland | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Oct 1993 | Cessna 172F | Co. Springs, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1993 | Beechcraft A36TC | Pueblo, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Nov 1993 | Bellanca BL17-31ATC | Pagosa Springs, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1993 | Cessna 210 | Monte Vista, Colorado, United States | Anderson, Robert W. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Nov 1993 | Cessna R172K | Mancos, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Nov 1993 | Cessna A185F | Maybell, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |