Glider sustained damage during landing error

Casualties unknown • Mayville, NY, US

A student pilot's glider was damaged after the wingtip caught in high grass during a landing maneuver intended to avoid an active runway.

What happened

During a landing attempt, the pilot of a glider observed a small aircraft moving down Runway 31. The pilot had originally intended to land on Runway 13 but instead landed in high grass located approximately 10 feet west of the runway edge.

To avoid rolling across the active runway into nearby powerlines, a ditch, or a road, the pilot deployed spoilers and applied full right rudder. During this maneuver, the pilot failed to notice that the right wing had not yet cleared the tall grass. As a result, the wingtip dipped and caught in the ground, causing damage to the aircraft.

At the time of the accident, the student pilot had a total flight time of approximately 18 hours, which included only 1 hour of solo flight time. The aircraft was not injured (no injuries reported).

Probable cause

The damage to the glider was caused by a ground loop resulting from the application of rudder while the right wing was still positioned within the high grass.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1995-08-19 Let BLANIK L-13 accident near Mayville, NY?

A student pilot's glider was damaged after the wingtip caught in high grass during a landing maneuver intended to avoid an active runway.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1995-08-19 involved a Let BLANIK L-13, registration N69AS, at Mayville, NY.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The damage to the glider was caused by a ground loop resulting from the application of rudder while the right wing was still positioned within the high grass.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001207X04358. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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