Let L-13 accident near Gregory, Michigan, July 26, 1991
On July 26, 1991 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Let L-13 (glider), registered N781BA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gregory, Michigan (Richmond airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A COLLISION WITH WIRES AFTER THE GLIDER OVERSHOT THE LANDING AREA DUE TO INADVERTENT LOWERING OF THE FLAPS AND NO USE OF SPOILERS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1991 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gregory, Michigan · Richmond · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let L-13 · all L-13s on the register
- Registration
- N781BA · registry record · serial 02 56 18
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT GLIDER PILOT SAID THAT HE INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED THE FLAPS INSTEAD OF THE SPOILERS WHILE MAKING A LANDING APPROACH. THE GLIDE PATH WAS SHALLOWED AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LAND ON THE GRASS STRIP. THE GLIDER OVERSHOT THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES, THEN THE ROUGH TERRAIN.
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: private
- Flight time: 20 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,158 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 12, 1991; 41 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 35, 2,252 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:50 pm from JXN, 15 miles away
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.