Let BLANIK L-13 accident near Brownsboro, Alabama, April 8, 1995
On April 8, 1995 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Let BLANIK L-13 (glider), registered N48039, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brownsboro, Alabama (Moontown Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADVERTENT USE OF SPOILERS DURING TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE GLIDER INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO IDENTIFY THE EXTENDED SPOILERS, AND THE PROXIMITY OF TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1995 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brownsboro, Alabama · Moontown Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let BLANIK L-13 BLANIK L-1 · all BLANIK L-13s on the register
- Registration
- N48039 · registry record · serial 026102
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER INSTRUCTOR (CFI) REPORTED THAT AS THE GLIDER WAS BEING TOWED ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE STUDENT PILOT ACCIDENTALLY ACTIVATED THE SPOILERS. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE TOW PLANE COULD NOT GAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE, WHILE TOWING THE GLIDER IN THIS CONFIGURATION, SO THE TOW PILOT RELEASED THE GLIDER AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 80 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TURNED THE GLIDER TO AVOID TREES AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A CLEARING; HOWEVER, THE WING OF THE GLIDER CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE GLIDER THEN ROTATED ABOUT 90 DEGREES AND SLID TO A STOP WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,210 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 686 as pilot in command; 318 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 1995; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,300 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from HSV, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.