# Accident 20170721009139A: Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, Deatsville, AL, July 21, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2017, 12:20 local time
- Place: Deatsville, AL
- Airport: Wetumpka
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.5128° N, 86.3997° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5128&lon=-86.3997&mi=10
- Aircraft: N342BA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N342BA-2020-10-31) (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 L-23 SUPER BLANIK
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 23 total, 20 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA427](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA427) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170721009139A

## Narrative

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

A 16 YEAR OLD STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED WETUMPKA AIRPORT ON HIS SECOND SOLO FLIGHT OF THE DAY AND THIRD TOTAL FLIGHT OF THE DAY, IN A BLANIK GLIDER OWNED BY CIVIL AIR PATROL.  THE STUDENT PILOT'S INSTRUCTOR WAS ALREADY IN POSITION APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES FROM THE AIRPORT, WAITING FOR HIM.  WHEN THE STUDENT PILOT BROKE LOOSE FROM THE TOW PLANE, HE NOR THE INSTRUCTOR SAW OR COULD LOCATE EACH OTHER.  THE STUDENT WAS IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH HIS INSTRUCTOR WHILE TRYING TO LOCATE HIM AND LOCATE A THERMAL BUT NEITHER WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY A COMMON AREA OR POINT OF REFERENCE TO KNOW THE OTHERS LOCATION.  THE STUDENT PILOT LOST ALTITUDE, AND HIT A POWER LINE, WITH HIS LEFT WING, BROKE THE POWER LINE AND THE AIRCRAFT TURNED APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES LANDING PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROAD, (318 FRALEY LANE) HITTING ON THE RIGHT WING FIRST AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT UPON LANDING WITHOUT ANY INJURIES.

COUNSELLED INSTRUCTOR PILOT.

## 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 GAA17CA427](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA427), Jul 21, 2017: Let L23 (N342BA), Deatsville, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees and power lines while landing.

## Other reports on N342BA (1)

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

- [Accident 20140714013662A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140714013662A), Jul 14, 2014: Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK (N342BA), Warm Springs, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft 1 landed and rolled out to the 1,000' point. Crew was debriefing in the aircraft waiting for takeoff. Aircraft two was on short final when the wind…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.