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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

October 8, 1986 · Let L-13 · N142AS

White Bear Lake, MN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 8, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
White Bear Lake, MN
Aircraft
Let L-13
Tail Number
N142AS
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI87LA002

The pilot reported that he entered the traffic pattern for runway 30 at approximately 900 feet and completed a right turn to base. The pilot stated that while on base, he realized the aircraft was too high and deployed the spoilers halfway. As he turned to final, he stated that he was too low and at that point observed the airspeed dropping to the stall point. In an attempt to avoid a stall, the pilot lowered the aircraft nose and realized that he would not make the airport. According to the pilot, he then flew under power lines and deliberately struck a power line pole with the right wing at approximately 30 feet above ground level, in order to dissipate energy. Approximately 10 feet of the outboard right wing was severed from the aircraft as it rotated 90 degrees to the right and dropped about 15 feet before coming to rest in a swamp about 200 yards from the airport. A witness stated that he clearly observed the glider's spoilers in a fully deployed position when the aircraft rolled out on final.

Full Narrative

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RWY 30 AT APRX 900 FT AND COMPLETED A RIGHT TURN TO BASE. THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE ON BASE, HE REALIZED THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO HIGH AND DEPLOYED THE SPOILERS HALFWAY. AS HE TURNED TO FINAL, HE STATED THAT HE WAS TOO LOW AND AT THAT POINT OBSERVED THE AIRSPEED DROPPING TO THE STALL POINT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID A STALL, THE PLT LOWERED THE ACFT NOSE AND REALIZED THAT HE WOULD NOT MAKE THE ARPT. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE THEN FLEW UNDER POWER LINES AND DELIBERATELY STRUCK A POWER LINE POLE WITH THE RIGHT WING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 FT AGL, IN ORDER TO DISSAPATE ENERGY. APPROXIMATELY 10 FT OF THE OUTBOARD RIGHT WING WAS SEVERED FROM THE ACFT AS IT ROTATED 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AND DROPPED ABOUT 15 FT BEFORE COMING TO REST IN A SWAMP ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM THE ARPT. A WITNESS STATED THAT HE CLEARLY OBSERVED THE GLIDER'S SPOILERS IN A FULLY DEPLOYED POSITION WHEN THE ACFT ROLLED OUT ON FINAL.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:15 CDT
Nearest AirportBenson Airport (1nm ESE)
Runway30
Runway Length2000 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLet L-13
Tail NumberN142AS
Aircraft CategoryGli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsNone · NONE · Unknown
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 36 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 6 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54 / 39 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data