Let L-13 accident near Pensacola, Florida, May 26, 1986
On May 26, 1986 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Let L-13 (glider), registered N11TR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pensacola, Florida (Coastal 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 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 26, 1986 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pensacola, Florida · Coastal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let L-13 · all L-13s on the register
- Registration
- N11TR · no longer on the register · serial 174708
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT GLIDER PLT WITH A TOTAL OF 47 HOURS OF FLT TIME DEPARTED HIS LOCAL FIELD WITH ONE PASSENGER. AT ABOUT 2000 FT AGL HE DISENGAGED THE AERO TOW AND PROCEEDED TO GLIDE FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR. THE PLT STATED THAT WHEN HE STARTED BACK TO HIS LOCAL AIRPORT AND WAS ESTABLISHED ON FINAL APPROACH HE ENCOUNTERED DOWN DRAFTS AND COULD NOT STRETCH THE GLIDE TO THE RWY. HE SELECTED A SOYBEAN FIELD AND STARTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. HE STRUCK A TREE ON FINAL APCH AND THE ACFT CARTWHEELED TO 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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 47 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,522 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 26, 1985; 84 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,550 ft by 280 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from PNS, 16 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.