# Accident 20061009024949A: Let L23SUPERBLAN, Birchwood, AK, October 9, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 9, 2006, 18:33 local time
- Place: Birchwood, AK
- Airport: Birchwood Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.4164° N, 149.5072° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4164&lon=-149.5072&mi=10
- Aircraft: N394BA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N394BA) (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 L23SUPERBLAN
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 272 total, 26 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC07CA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07CA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061009024949A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED BIRCHWOOD, ALASKA, ON TOW IN L-23 SUPER BLANK, OWNED BY THE CIVIL AIR PATROL, WITH A NON RATED PASSENGER. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR ON DEPARTURE. AFTER THE TOW PILOT RETURNED TO BIRCHWOOD AIRPORT HE REPORTED TO THE GLIDER THAT THE WIND HAD PICKED UP AND WAS GUSTY. THE GLIDER CONTINUED FLIGHT TO MOUNTAIN WAVE CONDITIONS TO 14,000 FEET AND 1.5 HOURS. UPON RETURNING TO BIRCHWOOD AIRPORT THE WIND HAD INCREASED TO 15 GUST 29 CROSSWIND. DURING THE LANDING THE NOSE OF THE GLIDER HIT THE GROUND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE GLIDER. THE PILOT REPORTED DIFFICULTY WITH PITCH CONTROL (PILOT INDUCED OSCILLATION) DURING THE ATTEMPTED LANDING.

## 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 ANC07CA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07CA005), Oct 10, 2006: Letecky Zavody L-23 Super Blanik (N394BA), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider while landing in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and structural damage to the fuselage. Factors associated with the…

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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