On August 4, 1991, a Let L-13 (registration N53AS) operated by Ames Soaring Club was involved in an aviation accident near Byron, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE ON GROUND COLLISION WITH A HIDDEN DITCH NOT VISIBLE TO THE PILOT DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT PHASE OF A FORCED LANDING. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A glider pilot attempted a field landing after realizing the rate of descent was too high to reach the airport runway. During the landing rollout, the glider struck a ditch that was not visible until late in the rollout.
Incident Overview
A glider pilot was returning to the glider port after a local soaring flight due to a lack of lift. During the flight back to the airport, the pilot became aware that the rate of descent was too high and the glider would not make the airport runway. The pilot set up to land in a vacant field covered with medium height grass.
Landing and Collision
The glider collided with a ditch during the landing rollout in the field. The ditch was not visible to the pilot until the latter stages of the landing rollout.
Damage
The glider was substantially damaged. (Note: The source states the glider was substantially damaged; no further details are provided.)
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…