Let L-13 accident near Mansfield, Massachusetts, April 13, 1985
On April 13, 1985 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Let L-13 (glider), registered N90862, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mansfield, Massachusetts (Mansfield). 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
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
- April 13, 1985 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Mansfield, Massachusetts · Mansfield
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let L-13 · all L-13s on the register
- Registration
- N90862 · no longer on the register · serial 025723
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE TURNED ONTO FINAL APCH AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL & THE PATTERN WAS NORMAL UNTIL HE WAS ABOUT 1/3 MI FROM THE RWY THRESHOLD. THE GLIDER THEN BEGAN TO SINK RAPIDLY. THE PLT REALIZED THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE RWY, SO HE DECIDED TO LAND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID A DITCH NEAR THE THRESHOLD. HE EXTENDED FULL SPOILERS & LANDED ON ROUGH TERRAIN. THE LEFT WING HIT A LARGE MOUND OF DIRT, DAMAGING THE GLIDER. THE PLT BELIEVED THAT HE MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR.
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: 1,243 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1,136 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,224 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1984; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,102 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:55 pm
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.