# Accident 20220622010899A: Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, Yoder, KS, June 22, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 22, 2022, 11:30 local time
- Place: Yoder, KS
- Airport: Sunflower Gliderport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.9397° N, 97.9047° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9397&lon=-97.9047&mi=10
- Aircraft: N364BA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N364BA) (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: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 6,143 total, 359 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22LA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA279) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220622010899A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS INTENDING TO RELEASE FROM THE TOW PLANE AT 4500 MSL, BUT CLOUDS AND HAZE WERE OBSCURING THE HORIZON MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR NEW STUDENT TO SEE REFERENCE POINTS TO FLY BY SO GLIDER RELEASED AT 3100 MSL EAST OF THE GLIDERPORT. PILOT HAD DEMONSTRATED 2 OR 3 YAW STRING COORDINATION INDICATIONS AND A TURN LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN PILOT OBSERVED THAT THEY HAD DESCENDED TO PATTERN ENTRY ALTITUDE RATHER QUICKLY. ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT APPROXIMATELY 2300 MSL SHOWING A GREATER THAN AVERAGE DESCENT RATE, MUCH MORE THAN SEEN ON THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT. PILOT SLOWED TO MINIMUM SINK AIRSPEED AS AIRCRAFT PROCEEDED ON THE DOWNWIND, COMPLETED THE PRELANDING CHECKLIST AND EVALUATED PROGRESS. PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FARM FIELD AHEAD THAT WAS SUITABLE FOR AN ALTERNATE LANDING SITE IN THE EVENT OF TOO MUCH ALTITUDE WAS LOST AND COULDN'T COMPLETE OUR TRAFFIC PATTERN. AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE TURN TO THE BASE LEG, BETWEEN 200 AND 250 FT AGL BUT DESCENDING. PILOT WAS ANTICIPATING A SIGNIFICANT TAILWIND PUSH FROM THE EAST WIND ON BASE LIKE HE HAD OBSERVED ON THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT SO HE ROLLED THE GLIDER INTO AN APPROXIMATE 15 DEGREE LEFT BANK AND ADDED PITCH DOWN TO MAKE THE TURN. AS THE PILOT ENTERED THE BASE LEG, HE APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER TO THE GLIDER TO STOP THE BANK BUT THE TURN CONTINUED, HE ADDED FULL RIGHT RUDDER AND A LITTLE RIGHT AILERON BUT THE TURN CONTINUED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING. THE BANK ANGLE DID NOT APPEAR TO STEEPEN AS THE AICRAFT DESCENDED. WHEN THE GLIDER IMPACTED THE GROUND PILOT FELT IT WAS IN A NOSE LOW LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE, PILOT BELIEVED HE HAD TURNED AT LEAST 180 DEGREES. PILOT FELT NO BUFFET AS THE GLIDER MADE ITS INITIAL TURN TO BASE LEG AND STATED THERE WAS NO DIMINISHING WIND NOISE THAT IS OFTEN HEARD WHEN A GLIDER APPROACHES A STALL.

## 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 CEN22LA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA279), Jun 22, 2022: Let L-23 Super Blanik (N364BA), Yoder, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's encounter with sinking air conditions that resulted in a loss of lift and a subsequent loss of control.

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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