Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK N912B
31 May 2021 · Pittsfield, Pennsylvania, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 31 May 2021 at about 18:00 local time, a Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK registered N912B, operated by Brokenstraw Soaring Club Inc, was involved in an accident near Pittsfield, Pennsylvania, 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 18:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Pittsfield, Pennsylvania, United States
- Nearest airport
- Brokenstraw (P15)
- Coordinates
- 41.8329, -79.3607
- Aircraft
- Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK
- Registration
- N912B
- Category
- Glider
- Year built
- 1992
- Operator
- Brokenstraw Soaring Club Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Pittsfield → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA21LA242
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and loss of directional control.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The student pilot had completed a training flight to pattern altitude just prior to the accident flight with his flight instructor. After that flight, the glider was towed to 3,000 feet above ground level and released from the tow rope so the student pilot could get some solo practice. The total duration of the solo flight was approximately 1.5 hours. Nothing unusual occurred with the flight until the student pilot turned on to the final leg of the traffic pattern for landing. The glider descended quicker than usual as the student pilot had the airbrakes (wing spoilers) extended. The pilot also stated that developed a leg cramp in his right leg on final approach. The pilot subsequently landed the glider “hard” and after touchdown, the pilot lost directional control. The glider then veered off the left side of the runway, struck a runway light and a drainage culvert with the right wing leading edge and lower airbrake, and then struck a taxiway light with the left wing. The glider’s right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Let L-23 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jul 2021 | Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK | Sterling, Massachusetts, United States | Greater Boston Soaring Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Jun 2022 | Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK | Yoder, Kansas, United States | Civil Air Patrol Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Mar 2020 | Let L 23 SUPER BLANIK | Huntsville, Alabama, United States | Huntsville Soaring Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Jun 2023 | Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK | Minden, Nevada, United States | Civil Air Patrol | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jun 2023 | Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK | Gregory, Michigan, United States | Sandhill Soaring Club Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 Jun 2018 | Let L 23 SUPER BLANIK | Moose, Wyoming, United States | Teton AvJet, LLC | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Mar 2021 | Piper PA-28-180 | West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States | Brandywine Flight School | No injuries | - |
| 1 Oct 2021 | Culp John S CULPS SPECL SOPWITH | Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 2021 | Van's RV7 | Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Sep 2021 | Boeing E75 | Nicholson, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 2021 | North American SNJ-2 | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States | Snj-2 Corp | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 Jun 2021 | Cessna 172S | Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, United States | Moyer Aviation Inc | No injuries | - |