Let L-13 accident near El Mirage, Arizona, May 18, 1984
On May 18, 1984 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Let L-13 (glider), registered N3204F, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Mirage, Arizona (Pleasant Valley airport). It was a personal 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
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
- May 18, 1984 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- El Mirage, Arizona · Pleasant Valley · 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
- N3204F · no longer on the register · serial 026525
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER A RELEASE FROM THE TOW LINE, HE HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING LIFT. HE CONCENTRATED ON FINDING LIFT SO MUCH THAT HE BECAME DISORIENTED WITH RESPECT TO THE RWY. WHEN HE ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT, HE INADVERTENTLY SELECTED A NARROW STRIP USED BY ULTRALIGHT VEHICLES. THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER LANDING, HE SWERVED TO AVOID A TREE & THE GLIDER'S TAIL STRUCK THE GROUND.
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: 233 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 179 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,747 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 26, 1983; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,102 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 4,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from LUF, 17 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.