Blanik L-13 accident near Murrieta, California, July 11, 1982
On July 11, 1982 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Blanik L-13 (glider), registered N90639, was substantially damaged in an accident near Murrieta, California (Thompson Transportation 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
- July 11, 1982 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Murrieta, California · Thompson Transportation
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Blanik L-13
- Registration
- N90639 · no longer on the register · serial 025525
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT LANDED SHORT OF RUNWAY IN A GLIDER AND IMPACTED THE GROUND AT HIGH SPEED WITH HIGH SINK RATE. HE HAD RELEASED EARLY FROM AN AEROTOW AND DESCENDED AT HIGH AIRSPEED WITH DIVE BRAKES OPEN WHICH ACCELERATED HIS RATE OF SINK. HE WAS NOT INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT.
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: 39 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,120 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,102 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L86 Murrieta CA at 2:36 pm
- Destination: L86 Murrieta CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 205° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 208°F (98°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.