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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 26, 1984 · Let L-13 · N48032

Edgewood, NM

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 26, 1984
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Edgewood, NM
Aircraft
Let L-13
Tail Number
N48032
Operator
New Mexico Soaring Ranch
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN84FA161

WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT APPEARED TO BE TOO HIGH, TOO FAST, AND IN A CRAB AS IT APPROACHED THE RWY. OVER THE RWY THE GLIDER WAS OBSERVED TO ROLL INTO A RIGHT TURN AS THE NOSE CAME UP. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE RIGHT WING STRUCK 3 PARKED ACFT AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. DURING AN INTERVIEW ON THE EVENING OF THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO A HIGH FAST APCH HE ATTEMPTED A RIGHT 270 DEGREE TURN IN ORDER TO LAND TO THE NORTH, JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT SUBMITTED ON 6-25-84 THE PILOT REFERS TO CONTROL INPUTS FROM THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT CAUSING THE ABNORMAL APPROACH AND AN UNCOMMANDED NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE JUST BEFORE COLLISION WITH THE PARKED GLIDER. THE PILOTS LOGS REFLECT 3 HRS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL GLIDER. HE STATED THAT HE HAD FLOWN SIMILIAR GLIDERS IN THE LATE 1960'S AND HAD ABOUT 3.5 TOTAL HRS IN THE ACFT. HE FURTHER REPORTED TO INVESTIGATORS THAT HE WAS USED TO FLYING ANOTHER GLIDER IN WHICH 90 DEGREE FLAPS ALLOWED STEEPER APPROACHES AND MORE RAPID DESCENTS.

Full Narrative

WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT APPEARED TO BE TOO HIGH, TOO FAST, AND IN A CRAB AS IT APPROACHED THE RWY. OVER THE RWY THE GLIDER WAS OBSERVED TO ROLL INTO A RIGHT TURN AS THE NOSE CAME UP. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE RIGHT WING STRUCK 3 PARKED ACFT AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. DURING AN INTERVIEW ON THE EVENING OF THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO A HIGH FAST APCH HE ATTEMPTED A RIGHT 270 DEGREE TURN IN ORDER TO LAND TO THE NORTH, JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT SUBMITTED ON 6-25-84 THE PILOT REFERS TO CONTROL INPUTS FROM THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT CAUSING THE ABNORMAL APPROACH AND AN UNCOMMANDED NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE JUST BEFORE COLLISION WITH THE PARKED GLIDER. THE PILOTS LOGS REFLECT 3 HRS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL GLIDER. HE STATED THAT HE HAD FLOWN SIMILIAR GLIDERS IN THE LATE 1960'S AND HAD ABOUT 3.5 TOTAL HRS IN THE ACFT. HE FURTHER REPORTED TO INVESTIGATORS THAT HE WAS USED TO FLYING ANOTHER GLIDER IN WHICH 90 DEGREE FLAPS ALLOWED STEEPER APPROACHES AND MORE RAPID DESCENTS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:10 MDT
Nearest AirportNew Mexico Soaring Ranch (0nm N)
Runway9
Runway Length5280 ft
Runway Width400 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLet L-13
Tail NumberN48032
Aircraft CategoryGli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorNew Mexico Soaring Ranch
Operating RulePart 91
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 56 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 9 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point36 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data