What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2006-09-02 involved a Let BLANIK L-13, registration N12YA, at Hampshire, IL.

Glider Ground Loops During Landing at Grass Airstrip (N12YA)

On September 2, 2006, a Let BLANIK L-13 (registration N12YA) was involved in an aviation accident near Hampshire, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate approach for landing and his failure to attain a proper descent rate. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

A glider sustained substantial damage after ground looping and skidding to a stop while landing at a grass airstrip. The pilot reported an excessive sink rate on downwind and delayed spoiler retraction due to heavy control forces.

Accident Details

A glider was substantially damaged when it ground looped and skidded to a stop while landing at a grass airstrip. The pilot reported that after releasing from the tow airplane at 3,000 feet above ground level (agl), no thermal lift was encountered, prompting a return to the airstrip for landing.

Pilot's Account

During the downwind leg, the pilot experienced a sink rate that he described as "seeming very excessive." He stated that he cut the pattern short and turned onto the base leg, which resulted in the glider being high on the base leg. The pilot reported deploying the spoilers but was slow to retract them due to what he described as the "heavy force required to push the handle forward." As a result, the glider lost altitude.

Touchdown and Ground Loop

The pilot reported that the left wing caught the grass at approximately the same time the glider touched down, with the nose oriented about 20 degrees off the runway heading. The glider subsequently ground looped and skidded to a stop, sustaining substantial damage.

2006-09-02: Let BLANIK L-13 (N12YA) — Hampshire, IL

Accident Details

Pilot's Account

Touchdown and Ground Loop

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