Plane Crash List

Let L23 N290SB

2 December 1996 · Bryan, Texas, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 2 December 1996 at about 21:45 local time, a Let L23 registered N290SB was involved in an accident near Bryan, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 21:45
Classification
Accident
Location
Bryan, Texas, United States
Coordinates
30.7999, -96.3094
Aircraft
Let L23
Registration
N290SB
Category
Glider
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
FTW97LA054

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

the pilot misjudged his distance and altitude during the landing approach. Factors relating to the accident were: the high obstructions (power lines), and subsequent tailwind during the forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the glider was released from the tow plane at 3,000 feet. After soaring for approximately 25 minutes in the vicinity of the airport, he maneuvered the glider to land on runway 17. The pilot added that on final approach, at approximately 250 feet AGL, 'the sail plane encountered a sink' and he realized that he would not be able to clear power lines at the approach end of the runway. The pilot stated that he elected to execute an 'off airport landing' in a field north of his position. The pilot turned right and executed a downwind landing with a 15 knot tailwind in the field that he had selected. During the landing roll, the root of the glider's right wing impacted a fence post.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Let L23 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
29 Mar 2015 Let L23-NO SERIES
N381BA
Los Alamitos, California, United States Los Alamitos Glider Training Sqaudron 41 Minor injuries -
21 Jul 2017 Let L23
N342BA
Deatsville, Alabama, United States - Minor injuries -

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
21 Sep 1996 Cessna T210L
N369PT
Lonestar, Texas, United States
no coordinates
- Minor injuries -
8 Jan 1996 Piper PA-28-160
N5505W
Decatur, Texas, United States - Serious injuries -
9 Jan 1996 Piper PA-38-112
N9840T
Port Mansfield, Texas, United States Flight Training Systems, Inc. No injuries -
14 Jan 1996 Beechcraft 35-A33
N1111Z
Houston, Texas, United States Ray's Flying Service No injuries -
28 Apr 1996 Cessna T210N
N9403Y
Beaumont, Texas, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
12 Jan 1996 Schweizer 269C
N3623T
San Ygnacio, Texas, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States