Let BLANIK L-13 N48039
8 April 1995 · Brownsboro, Alabama, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 8 April 1995 at about 22:00 local time, a Let BLANIK L-13 registered N48039, operated by Theodore N. Mavrotheris, was involved in an accident near Brownsboro, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Brownsboro, Alabama, United States
- Nearest airport
- Moontown Airport (3M5)
- Coordinates
- 34.7197, -86.4807
- Aircraft
- Let BLANIK L-13
- Registration
- N48039
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Theodore N. Mavrotheris
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL95LA080
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADVERTENT USE OF SPOILERS DURING TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE GLIDER INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO IDENTIFY THE EXTENDED SPOILERS, AND THE PROXIMITY OF TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE GLIDER INSTRUCTOR (CFI) REPORTED THAT AS THE GLIDER WAS BEING TOWED ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE STUDENT PILOT ACCIDENTALLY ACTIVATED THE SPOILERS. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE TOW PLANE COULD NOT GAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE, WHILE TOWING THE GLIDER IN THIS CONFIGURATION, SO THE TOW PILOT RELEASED THE GLIDER AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 80 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TURNED THE GLIDER TO AVOID TREES AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A CLEARING; HOWEVER, THE WING OF THE GLIDER CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE GLIDER THEN ROTATED ABOUT 90 DEGREES AND SLID TO A STOP WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Let BLANIK accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep 1995 | Let BLANIK L-13 | Como, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 1995 | Let BLANIK L-13 | Mayville, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Apr 1996 | Let BLANIK L-13 | Jean, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Apr 1994 | Let BLANIK L-13 | Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States | Plymouth Aviation Soaring | No injuries | - |
| 22 Dec 1996 | Let BLANIK L-13 | Mulberry, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 1997 | Let BLANIK L-13 | Pagosa Springs, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Aug 1995 | Cessna 188T | Town Creek, Alabama, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Aug 1995 | Cessna 188T | Town Creek, Alabama, United States | Elliott Parker | No injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 1995 | Bell UH-1H | Montgomery, Alabama, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 1995 | Ronsrans R 12 | Clanton, Alabama, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 27 Sep 1995 | Schweizer 269C | Hoover, Alabama, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Sep 1995 | Cessna 182R | Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States | James R. Tarter, JR | No injuries | - |