Let L-13 accident near New Smyrna Bch, Florida, September 26, 1992
On September 26, 1992 at about 3:08 pm local time, a Let L-13 (glider), registered N90861, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Smyrna Bch, Florida (Massey Ranch Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. THE DOWNDRAFT WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1992 · about 3:08 pm local time
- Place
- New Smyrna Bch, Florida · Massey Ranch Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let L-13 · all L-13s on the register
- Registration
- N90861 · registry record · serial 025722
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE WIND WAS FROM SOUTH AT 12 KTS. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 18, ON PROPER GLIDEPATH, THE GLIDER BEGAN TO DESCEND. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR TREES JUST PRIOR TO THE RUNWAY AND THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH THE TREES, AND DESCENDED NOSE FIRST 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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 812 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 900 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 5, 1992; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,240 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Precision Soaring, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: X50 at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 175° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from DAB, 14 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MIA92LA191.