Let BLANIK L-13 accident near Clinton, Montana, September 26, 1993
On September 26, 1993 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Let BLANIK L-13 (glider), registered N52AS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clinton, Montana (Clinton 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
TOTAL FAILURE OF THE TOW EQUIPMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1993 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Clinton, Montana · Clinton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- N52AS · registry record · serial 027056
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SECOND TOW ATTEMPT, THE TOW ROPE BROKE FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE PILOT PULLED THE LEVER TO RELEASE THE ROPE, HOWEVER, THE ROPE DID NOT RELEASE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR LANDED ON THE ROPE AND THE GLIDER VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE GLIDER CONTINUED TO THE SIDE OF THE AIRSTRIP AND COLLIDED WITH A STATIONARY RUNWAY BORDER CONE BEFORE THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND MANEUVER THE GLIDER BACK ON THE AIRSTRIP.
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: 14 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 713 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 4,075 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N52AS 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.