The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB SEA07LA101 · Final report

Let Blanik L-13 and Glaser-Dirks DG 505 Elan accident near Llano, California, April 13, 2007

On April 13, 2007 at about 10:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Let Blanik L-13 (N101JJ) and Glaser-Dirks DG 505 Elan (N505TW), were involved in the same accident near Llano, California (Crystal Airport). 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll.
The failure of the other pilot to maintain directional control during landing roll.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
April 13, 2007 · about 10:00 pm local time · cases in 2007
Place
Llano, California · Crystal Airport · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident · collision on the ground
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft 1
Let Blanik L-13 · all Blanik L-13s on the register
Registration
N101JJ · registry record · serial 625301
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
Aircraft 2
Glaser-Dirks DG 505 Elan
Registration
N505TW · no longer on the register · serial 5EA82X33
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative for the Let Blanik L-13 final · quoted from the NTSB record

In a written statement, the student pilot reported that he was landing his glider, a LET Blanik L-13, on 25L, while another glider, a DG 505 was positioned on 25R approximately 1000 feet from the departure end of the runway. The DG 505 was hooked to a tow plane and waiting for takeoff on runway 25R. The Blanik L-13 made a normal landing on runway 25L with a touchdown point 500 feet from the end of the runway. During the landing roll, the glider veered to the right and collided with the DG 505 before coming to a stop. The right wing of the Blanik L-13 impacted the left wingtip of the DG 505. The flight instructor in the DG 505 stated in a written report: "there was ample room (for landing), but the pilot made the mistake of looking at the obstruction (me), rather than ahead up the runway." A post accident inspection revealed substantial damage to the Blanik L-13, including distorted wing skins, detached wing attachments and bent bulkheads in the fuselage. The minor damage to the DG 505 was contained to a detachable wing tip.

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 NTSB's narrative for the Glaser-Dirks DG 505 Elan final · quoted from the NTSB record

In a written statement, the student pilot reported that he was landing his glider, a LET Blanik L-13 on 25L, while another glider, a DG 505 was positioned on 25R approximately 1000 feet from the departure end of the runway. The DG 505 was hooked to a tow plane and waiting for takeoff on runway 25R. The Blanik L-13 made a normal landing on runway 25L with a touchdown point 500 feet from the end of the runway. During the landing roll, the glider veered to the right and collided with the DG 505 before coming to a stop. The right wing of the Blanik L-13 impacted the left wingtip of the DG 505. The flight instructor in the DG 505 stated in a written report: "there was ample room (for landing), but the pilot made the mistake of looking at the obstruction (me), rather than ahead up the runway." A post accident inspection revealed substantial damage to the Blanik L-13, including distorted wing skins, detached wing attachments and bent bulkheads in the fuselage. The minor damage to the DG 505 was contained to a detachable wing tip.

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 for the Let Blanik L-13 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Dual student

  • Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
  • Flight time: 68 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 23 as pilot in command
  • Last flight review: March 1, 2007
  • Medical certificate: None
  • Seat: frt
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,832 hours
  • Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 2007
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,102 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine:; 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: 46CN Llano CA at 9:40 pm
  • Destination: 46CN Llano CA
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 25, 4,500 ft by 250 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
  • Observation at 9:53 pm from PMD, 15 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

The factual record for the Glaser-Dirks DG 505 Elan from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Pilot

  • Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
  • Ratings: instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
  • Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 6,000 on instruments
  • Last flight review: August 1, 2006
  • Medical certificate: None
  • Seat: rear
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,903 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2007
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,653 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine:; 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: 46CN Llano CA
  • Destination: 46CN Llano CA
  • Runway 25, 4,500 ft by 250 ft

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA07LA101.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.