# Accident 20210731012279A: Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, Sterling, MA, July 31, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 2021, 14:16 local time
- Place: Sterling, MA
- Airport: Sterling Airport
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Location: 42.4259° N, 71.7929° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4259&lon=-71.7929&mi=10
- Aircraft: N373BA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N373BA) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 733 total, 80 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA327) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210731012279A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 31, WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 34 AT STERLING AIRPORT (3BE), GLIDER N373BA, PILOTED BY IP ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^AND SP ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MADE A HARD LANDING. THE GLIDER SUFFERED MINIMAL DAMAGE. THE SP EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURY. THE IP SUFFERED INJURIES RESULTING IN EMERGENCY SURGERY FOR BROKEN VERTEBRA WITHIN 7 DAYS OF THE MISHAP FLIGHT, WITH A HOSPITAL STAY IN EXCESS OF 48 HOURS, ELEVATING THE MISHAP TO AN ACCIDENT.

DURING THE INTERVIEW THE IP STATED THAT THE TURN TO FINAL APPROACH WAS SLIGHTLY HIGH AND UNSTABLE. THE SP, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS FLYING THE APPROACH PROCEDURES. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO, AND CORRECTLY INITIATED A SLIP TO LOSE ALTITUDE. THE SLIP WAS TERMINATED AT APPROX. 60? AGL NEAR THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 34. THE STUDENT WAS INSTRUCTED TO, AND CORRECTLY CHOSE AN AIM POINT FOR LANDING. DURING THE FLAIR TO LAND, AND WITH AIR BRAKES FULLY DEPLOYED, THE AIRCRAFT BALLOONED SLIGHTLY. NEITHER THE STUDENT NOR THE IP WERE ABLE TO PREVENT THE AIRCRAFT FROM STALLING BETWEEN 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN A HARD 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 ERA21LA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA327), Jul 31, 2021: Let L-23 Super Blanik (N373BA), Sterling, MA, minor damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s lack of remedial action, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall in the landing flare and a hard landing.

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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