Let BLANIK L-13 accident near Como, Colorado, September 24, 1995
On September 24, 1995 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Let BLANIK L-13 (glider), registered N38924, was substantially damaged in an accident near Como, Colorado (Silver Heels Gliderport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT ALLOWING THE GLIDER TO DEVELOP AN EXCESSIVE DESCENT RATE. A FACTOR WAS THE PREMATURE AND AUTOMATIC DISENGAGEMENT OF THE WINCH-TOW SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 1995 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Como, Colorado · Silver Heels Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let BLANIK L-13 BLANIK L-1 · all BLANIK L-13s on the register
- Registration
- N38924 · no longer on the register · serial 025319
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER WAS BEING LAUNCHED VIA WINCH. AT AN ALTITUDE ABOUT 50 FEET, A SLACK DEVELOPED IN THE TOW LINE, CAUSING THE GLIDER TO BE RELEASED AUTOMATICALLY. THE PILOT PITCHED THE NOSE DOWN. A HIGH SINK RATE DEVELOPED AND WHEN THE PILOT FLARED, THE GLIDER LANDED HARD, COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,021 hours in all; 337 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 3,918 as pilot in command; 327 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,639 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 1995; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2CO9 at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 4,500 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N38924 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.