Blanik L-13 accident near Warren, Minnesota, May 20, 1982
On May 20, 1982 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Blanik L-13 (glider), registered N99805, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warren, Minnesota (Warren airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1982 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Warren, Minnesota · Warren · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Blanik L-13
- Registration
- N99805 · registry record · serial 026509
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE GLIDER DURING THE TOW AND RELEASED PREMATURELY. THE DESTINATION WAS 12 TO 14 MILES AWAY WITH 10-15 KT HEADWINDS. WHEN THE PILOT DECIDED THE DESTINATION COULD NOT BE MADE A ROAD WAS SELECTED FOR A FORCED LANDING BECAUSE LOCAL FIELDS WERE SOFT AND MUDDY. AT A LOW ALTITUDE THE TOW PILOT WARNED OF A TRUCK ON THE ROAD AND THE GLIDER PILOT DIVERTED TO A NEARBY FIELD. THE WING COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE GLIDER.
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 single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,057 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 283 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Grand Forks ND
- Destination: Warren MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 147°F (64°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N99805 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI82DA177.