Casualties unknown

Glider Sustains Substantial Damage in Hard Landing During Instruction Flight (N9295Z)

Blair, NE, US

On August 6, 2005, a Let BLANIK L-13 (registration N9295Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Blair, NE. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The low airspeed by the pilot and the inadequate supervision by the certified flight instructor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A glider was substantially damaged during a hard landing. The CFI reported a rapid increase in sink rate and noted partially extended dive brakes.

Accident Details

A glider experienced a hard landing, resulting in substantial damage. The certified flight instructor (CFI) was seated in the rear seat and had allowed the front seat pilot to perform the landing. According to the CFI's statement, while the glider was over the runway, the sink rate increased dramatically to a rate too high for a normal touchdown. The front seat pilot applied full back stick, causing the nose to rise, which significantly arrested the sink rate.

Landing Sequence

The initial ground contact was made by the tail wheel, followed by the main wheels. The CFI noted that the dive brakes were partially extended during the landing. It was unclear from the CFI's observation whether the dive brakes had been closed and then reopened during the rollout or remained open throughout the landing.

Aircraft Damage

The glider sustained substantial damage as a result of the hard landing. No information was provided regarding the aircraft type, registration, operator, location, date, time of day, weather conditions, or ATC involvement.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20050826X01317. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.