Casualties unknown

Collision Between Two Gliders During Landing at Airport (N101JJ)

Llano, CA, US

On April 13, 2007, a Let BLANIK L-13 (registration N101JJ) operated by Henrich G Brigentoff was involved in an aviation accident near Llano, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll. 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 student pilot landing a LET Blanik L-13 on runway 25L veered right during landing roll and collided with a DG 505 glider waiting for takeoff on runway 25R, causing substantial damage to the Blanik.

Incident

A student pilot reported that during the landing roll of his glider, a LET Blanik L-13, the aircraft veered to the right and collided with another glider, a DG 505, which was positioned on an adjacent runway. The Blanik L-13 had made a normal landing on runway 25L, touching down approximately 500 feet from the departure end of the runway. The DG 505 was located on runway 25R, about 1000 feet from the departure end, hooked to a tow plane and awaiting takeoff.

Statements

The flight instructor in the DG 505 provided a written statement indicating that there was sufficient space for the landing, but the student pilot made the error of focusing on the obstruction rather than looking ahead along the runway.

Damage

A post-accident inspection revealed substantial damage to the Blanik L-13, including distorted wing skins, detached wing attachments, and bent bulkheads in the fuselage. The DG 505 sustained minor damage confined to a detachable wing tip, as the right wing of the Blanik impacted the left wingtip of the DG 505.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20070501X00486. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.