Let L-13 accident near Maricopa, Arizona, June 11, 1983
On June 11, 1983 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Let L-13 (glider), registered N160AS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Maricopa, Arizona. 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).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1983 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Maricopa, Arizona
- 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
- N160AS · registry record · serial 026939
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SAILPLANE COLLIDED WITH A SMALL TREE AND GROUNDLOOPED DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THE ACFT HAD ENCOUNTERED A HIGH SINK RATE WHILE GLIDING AT 5000 FT. A RIDGE WAS BETWEEN THE PILOT AND THE INTENDED ROUTE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND SHORT OF THE RIDGE LINE IN THE DESERT. DURING THE FLARE FOR LANDING THE ACFT'S LEFT WING HIT A MESQUITE BUSH ABOUT 8 TO 10 FT AGL AND SPUN AROUND. THE WEATHER WAS REPORTED BY THE PILOT AS CLEAR WITH GUSTY WINDS AND A TEMPERATURE OF 105 DEGREES F.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 55 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1983; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,102 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E68 Maricopa AZ at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX83LA280.