Schleicher AS-K13 and Piper PA-18A mid-air collision near Stanton, Minnesota, June 9, 1984
On June 9, 1984 at about 2:40 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Schleicher AS-K13 (N3313) and Piper PA-18A (N1015A), were involved in a mid-air collision near Stanton, Minnesota (Carleton airport). 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1984 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Stanton, Minnesota · Carleton
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Schleicher AS-K13 · all AS-K13s on the register
- Registration
- N3313 · registry record · serial 13086
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-18A · all PA-18As on the register
- Registration
- N1015A · registry record · serial 18-585
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Schleicher AS-K13 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TOW PLANE AND THE GLIDER IT HAD TOWED TO PATTERN ALT COLLIDED ON THE FINAL APPROACH OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE TOW PLANE WAS SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW THE SAILPLANE & LAND AFTER ITS TOW ROPE DROP. THERE WAS A LOW SUN GLARE ON THE HEADING OF THE BASE LEG. THE CFI IN THE GLIDER SAID HE DID NOT SEE THE TOW PLANE UNTIL THE GLIDER WAS AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL & 200 YARDS FROM TOUCHDOWN, THEN HE SAW A 'WHITE MOVEMENT' TO HIS LEFT. HE TURNED RIGHT, BUT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID A COLLISION. HE SAID THERE WERE NO RADIOS IN EITHER ACFT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-18A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TOW PLANE AND THE SAILPLANE IT HAD TOWED TO PATTERN ALT COLLIDED ON FINAL APPROACH OF THE PATTERN. THE TOW PLANE WAS SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW THE SAILPLANE TO LAND AFTER IT HAD DROPPED THE TOW ROPE. THERE WAS A LOW SUN GLARE FACING THE TOWPLT ON THE HEADING OF THE BASE LEG. ACCORDING TO THE CFI IN THE GLIDER, THE TOW PLT WAS LOOKING 'AHEAD AND TO THE LEFT' JUST BEFORE THE COLLISION. THERE WERE NO RADIOS IN EITHER ACFT.
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 for the Schleicher AS-K13 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,508 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 1,440 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,222 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 160 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,060 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SYN Stanton MN at 2:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,560 ft by 300 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-18A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,074 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2,635 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A3B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,560 ft by 300 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.