Let L-13 accident near Plymouth, Florida, May 31, 1987
On May 31, 1987 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Let L-13 (glider), registered N99946, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plymouth, Florida (Orlando North 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 31, 1987 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Florida · Orlando North
- 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
- N99946 · no longer on the register · serial 025822
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT MISREAD THE ALTIMETER BY 1000 FT WHEN THE FLT ENTERED THE INITIAL POINT OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. HE THEN BEGAN CIRCLING TO DISSIPATE ALT & REALIZED THAT THE ACFT WAS LOW. HE THEN PROCEEDED DOWNWIND, TURNED BASE THEN FINAL & LANDED HARD BUCKLING THE WINGS & FUSELAGE.
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: 164 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,282 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 28, 1987; 25 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 15, 3,000 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MCO, 22 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.
Other NTSB records under N99946 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.