LAX97LA165

Factual narrative

On April 19, 1997, at 1442 hours Pacific daylight time, a Blanik L-13 glider, N90620, collided with the ground approximately 1 statute mile short of the Hemet-Ryan glider port in Hemet, California. The aircraft incurred substantial damage when it impacted a fence after landing, and the private pilot received serious injuries. The flight originated at the Hemet-Ryan airport at approximately 1350 on a planned 1-hour local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. A glider pilot who had previously landed at Hemet-Ryan stated that she had encountered a large area of sinking air on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. The aircraft landed approximately 1 statute mile short of the runway in soft, rough terrain, and hit a fence after landing. A glider pilot who had landed previously stated that she had encountered a large area of sinking air on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12