# Accident 20090426011289A: Let L23SUPERBLAN, Adrian, MI, April 26, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 26, 2009, 15:00 local time
- Place: Adrian, MI
- Airport: Lenawee County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.8678° N, 84.0772° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8678&lon=-84.0772&mi=10
- Aircraft: N238SB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N238SB-2024-12-07) (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
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,041 total, 442 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA269](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA269) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090426011289A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SUNDAY APRIL 26, 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 (1900 GMT) AT ADRIAN, MI (KADG) AIRPORT; ROBERT A. SCHMALL GLIDER INSTRUCTOR (CFI CERTIFICATE 2834470) FOR THE ADRIAN SOARING CLUB (ASC) DECIDED TO TAKE THE GLIDER N238SB (M/N L-23, S/N 928088)UP ONE LAST TIME DUE IMPENDING WEATHER TO THE SOUTH, POSITION THE GLIDER FOR STORAGE AND DEMONSTRATE A CROSSWIND LANDING WITH STUDENT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^  THE GLIDER WAS TOWED BY TOM SHIPP (COMM. CERTIFICATE 1745641) PILOTING N4815Y A PAWNEE (M/N PA-25-235, S/N 25-4567).  THE GLIDER TOOK-OFF ON RUNWAY 23 WITH INTENSION TO LAND ON 29; MR. SCHMALL STATED THAT AT 300 FEET IT BEGAN TO RAIN AND THE GLIDER RELEASED FROM TOW AT 1000 AGL JUST NORTH OF RUNWAY 11-29.  MR SCHMALL LINED UP FOR LANDING RUNWAY 29, IT WAS RAINY HEAVILY, GUSTY AND HE HAD TROUBLE SEEING FROM THE REAR SEAT.  MR. SCHMALL THEN ENCOUNTEREED HEAVY GUSTS NORTHERLY AND DOWNWARD PUSHING HIM TOWARD THE GROUND, HE THEN MADE A DECISION TO LAND IN THE GRASS NORTH OF RUNWAY 29.  THE GLIDER LEFT WING AT THE SPOILER IMPACTED A TOP OF A RUNWAY SIGN AND TAXI LIGHT WAS ALSO DAMAGED, THE GLIDER SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES AND CAME TO REST IN THE GRASS JUST NORTH OF RUNWAY 29 AND THE 23 TAXIWAY SIGNAGE.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY THE INSTRUCTOR OR THE STUDENT, BOTH WALKED AWAY AND DID NOT NEED ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION.

## 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 CEN09CA269](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA269), Apr 26, 2009: Let L-23 Super Blanik (N238SB), Adrian, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's inadequate compensation for the strong, gusting crosswind during landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's decision to attempt flight with known…

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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