# Accident 19990715022379A: Let L23, Jacksonville, FL, July 15, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 15, 1999
- Place: Jacksonville, FL
- Airport: Herlong Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.2698° N, 81.7496° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2698&lon=-81.7496&mi=10
- Aircraft: N254BA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N254BA-2011-02-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK (registry code 1360308, https://openairdocs.org/model/let-l-23-super-blanik) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LET L23
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA99LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA197) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990715022379A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON JULY 15, 1999, ABOUT 1400 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A LET BLANIK L-23 GLIDER, N254BA, REGISTERED TO THE NORTH FLORIDA SOARING SOCIETY INC., COLLIDED WITH A TREE WHILE ON APPROACH TO THE HERLONG AIRPORT, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 LOCAL PERSONAL FLIGHT.  THE GLIDER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.  THE COMMERCIAL-RATED PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER REPORTED NO INJURIES.  THE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED FROM THE SAME AIRPORT AT AN UNKNOWN TIME. THE GLIDER WAS ON APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, AND LANDED SHORT OF THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT, IN A TREE, ABOUT 3 1/2 MILES NORTH OF THE AIRPORT.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED AN UNEXPECTED SINK BEFORE "PANCAKING" IN A TREE.                                               (-23) RETURNING TO JACKSONVILLE HURLONG AIRPORT, PILOT EXPERIENCED A DOWN DRAFT, RAN OUT OF FORWARD VELOCITY, STALLED AND CRASHED INTO TREES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA99LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA197), Jul 15, 1999: Let L-23 (N254BA), Jacksonville, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper in-flight decisions allowing the glider to descend to a low altitude, resulting in a forced landing off the airport and subsequent impact with a tree.

## Other reports on N254BA (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19951216043649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951216043649A), Dec 16, 1995: Let L23 (N254BA), Jacksonville, FL, Substantial damage. Unable find thermals. Elected land in football field. Left wing struck goal post.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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