Let L-13 accident near Hempstead, Texas, August 2, 1987
On August 2, 1987 at about 9:46 pm local time, a Let L-13 (glider), registered N78AS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hempstead, Texas (Hempstead airport). It was a personal 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 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
- August 2, 1987 · about 9:46 pm local time
- Place
- Hempstead, Texas · Hempstead · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let L-13 · all L-13s on the register
- Registration
- N78AS · registry record · serial 027018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT LANDED SHORT OF THRESHOLD FOLLOWING A LOW RELEASE SHORTLY AFTER T/O. RELEASE WAS LOW DUE TO TOW PLANE'S BEING UNABLE TO CLIMB ABOVE 200' AGL DUE TO THE GLIDER'S SPOILERS BEING DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY DURING THE T/O. THE PLT STATED THAT HE EXECUTED A 270 DEG TURN TO RETURN TO THE THRESHOLD INSTEAD OF MAKING A 90 DEG TURN TO THE RWY. PLT WAS UNAWARE OF THE SPOILER DEPLOYMENT DESPITE THE GRND CREW'S ATTEMPTS TO WARN HIM BY RADIO. THE RADIO VOLUME WAS TURNED DOWN.
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
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 485 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 466 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 727 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 28, 1987; 121 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 35R at 9:44 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.