Let L 23 SUPER BLANIK N266SE

Summary

On 17 August 2014 at about 20:20 local time, a Let L 23 SUPER BLANIK registered N266SE, operated by Central Alabama Soaring Association, was involved in an accident near Sylacauga, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 August 2014 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Sylacauga, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Merkel Field Sylacauga Muni (SCD)

Coordinates

33.1703, -86.2608

Aircraft

Let L 23 SUPER BLANIK

Registration

N266SE

Category

Glider

Year built

1993

Operator

Central Alabama Soaring Association

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sylacauga → Sylacauga

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14LA391

1 person was seriously injured.

The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's failure to properly assess her physical condition prior to conducting the flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot was maneuvering the glider to land at the conclusion of a local solo flight. While turning to allow for spacing with another glider in the airport traffic pattern, the pilot "vaguely" recalled the glider entering an aerodynamic stall. The glider subsequently impacted a tree, resulting in serious injury to the student pilot and substantial damage to the glider. Two witnesses observed the accident glider in the traffic pattern, and both recounted that it entered a right spin before descending to ground impact. The pilot stated that her preflight inspection of the glider revealed no anomalies and that the glider performed normally throughout the flight. She further stated that she felt nauseated the morning of the accident, had taken an over-the-counter decongestant medication, and was not properly hydrated before or during the flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.