Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK N273BA

Summary

On 28 June 2012 at about 16:30 local time, a Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK registered N273BA was involved in an accident near Benton, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 June 2012 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Benton, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Chilhowee Gliderport (92A)

Coordinates

35.2225, -84.5844

Aircraft

Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK

Registration

N273BA

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Benton → Benton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12CA454

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadvertent extension of the wing airbrakes, which resulted in a loss of lift and subsequent landing prior to the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was landing the glider at the conclusion of her third solo flight. She stated that on the base leg of the traffic pattern, the glider was lower and farther away from the runway than she intended. She "set" the wing airbrakes, turned onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, and the glider began to sink. The glider subsequently impacted the ground short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing spar and rear cockpit bulkhead. A postaccident examination of the glider revealed no evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The airbrakes were found fully deployed after the accident, and the pilot reported that she actually extended the airbrakes when she meant to stow them.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.