Let BLANIK L-13 accident near Prescott Valley, Arizona, January 25, 1998
On January 25, 1998 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Let BLANIK L-13 (glider), registered N3463, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott Valley, Arizona (Coyote Run Glider Port 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 failure of the ground crew to correctly attach the tow bridle, which resulted in the pilot's loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 1998 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott Valley, Arizona · Coyote Run Glider Port · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let BLANIK L-13 BLANIK L-1 · all BLANIK L-13s on the register
- Registration
- N3463 · no longer on the register · serial 173921
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider uses two attachment points on its bridle, one on either side of the fuselage, and has a single retractable wheel in the center of the fuselage. The left side bridle attachment point for the glider became unattached as the glider began the winch tow. The asymmetrical force then pulled the glider to the left, and the left wing struck a parked truck. The glider then proceeded in a sharp angle away from the runway towards the windsock pole, still under tow on only the right side and still accelerating. The glider launched into the air and struck the top of the windsock pole with the inboard portion of the right wing. The pilot reported that he then pulled the release to disconnect the tow wire from the glider. The right wingtip then struck the ground and the glider swung around approximately 270 degrees as the fuselage and tail struck the ground and came to a stop. According to an FAA inspector, the bridle was incorrectly attached at the time of the accident by the ground crew.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 223 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 199 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,017 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1997; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,102 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,500 ft by 10 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.