Let L-13 accident near Llano, California, July 9, 1984
On July 9, 1984, a Let L-13 (glider), registered N99966, was substantially damaged in an accident near Llano, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 9, 1984
- Place
- Llano, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let L-13 · all L-13s on the register
- Registration
- N99966 · no longer on the register · serial 025919
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE GLIDER DID NOT SINK AS FAST AS EXPECTED ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, SO HE EXTENDED FLAPS TO 30 TO 40 DEG, USED SPOILERS & EXTENDED THE DOWNWIND. ON BASE LEG HE ENTERED AN AREA OF HIGH SINK; THEREFORE, HE CLOSED THE SPOILERS & ANGLED TOWARD THE RWY. HE DECIDED THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND IN A FIELD, SHORT OF THE ARPT. DURING THE LANDING ON ROUGH TERRAIN, THE RIGHT WING HIT A JOSHUA TREE & THE GLIDER WAS DAMAGED.
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: 363 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 167 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,509 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 1984; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L01 Llano CA at 10:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 24 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from WJF, 25 miles away
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.