Let BLANIK L-13 accident near Perry, South Carolina, August 17, 1999
On August 17, 1999 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Let BLANIK L-13 (glider), registered N7529, was substantially damaged in an accident near Perry, South Carolina (Perry International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an in-flight collision with the ground due to inadequate liftoff airspeed, and the pilot's improper use of flaps, which resulted in too low of an altitude to sustain flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1999 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Perry, South Carolina · Perry International
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- N7529 · no longer on the register · serial 025524
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider was being launched by an automobile, and according to the pilot, '...lack of airspeed for adequate climb was generated and resulting release was low 100-150 feet.' The pilot performed a left turn 90 degrees because he did not have sufficent altitude to return to airport. He elected to land in a field adjacent to the airport. He said, 'I inadvertently deployed flaps instead of spoilers resulting in excess float.' Just before the end of the field he turned right to avoid trees. The right wing impacted the ground followed by the nose and left wing.
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: 250 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 190 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from AGS, 45 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.