Let L13 AC Blanik accident near Zephyrhills, Florida, March 5, 2006
On March 5, 2006 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Let L13 AC Blanik (glider), registered N4413, was substantially damaged in an accident near Zephyrhills, Florida (Zephyrhills Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's encounter with downdraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2006 · about 10:30 pm local time · cases in 2006
- Place
- Zephyrhills, Florida · Zephyrhills Municipal · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let L13 AC Blanik · all L13 AC Blaniks on the register
- Registration
- N4413 · no longer on the register · serial 175108
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he entered the traffic pattern at 1,000 ft AGL, and at a 45-degree angle. Shortly after announcing the turn to base he said the glider encountered a "strong sink", and he was unable to clear the tree tops at the end of the runway. The left wing hit a tree top, and the glider fell, short of the runway on level ground, incurring damage. According to the pilot, there were no preaccident anomalies associated with the glider.
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: 331 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 85 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,977 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,977 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ZPH Zephyrhills FL at 10:00 pm
- Destination: ZPH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from TPA, 28 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N4413: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Let L-13 11 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Let 178 aircraft on the register
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Zephyrhills Municipal · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 989 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,712 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/MIA06CA060.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.