LET L-23 SUPER BLANIK
Benton, TN — June 28, 2012
Event Information
| Date | June 28, 2012 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA12CA454 |
| Event ID | 20120716X04143 |
| Location | Benton, TN |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 35.22250, -84.58444 |
| Airport | Chilhowee Gliderport |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | LET |
| Model | L-23 SUPER BLANIK |
| Category | GLI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's inadvertent extension of the wing airbrakes, which resulted in a loss of lift and subsequent landing prior to the runway.
Full Narrative
The pilot was landing the glider at the conclusion of her third solo flight. She stated that on the base leg of the airport traffic pattern, the glider was “lower and further away” from the runway than she intended. She "set" the airbrakes, turned onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, and the glider began to sink. The glider subsequently impacted terrain 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.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.