# NTSB ATL95LA093: Let L-23 Super Blanik, N152AT, Spartanburg, SC, April 29, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 29, 1995, 16:05 local (20:05 UTC)
- Place: Spartanburg, SC
- Coordinates: 34.930187, -82.010025 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9302&lon=-82.0100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3557
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3557/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA093

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent use speed brakes during takeoff.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted
  - flight control,speed brake - activated
  - speed brakes - inadvertent activation, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER WAS NOT GAINING SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE TOW PLANE PILOT RELEASED THE GLIDER, AND THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED. DUE TO OBSTRUCTIONS AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE GLIDER INTO AN OPEN AREA. THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND FIRST, AND THE GLIDER GROUND LOOPED. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE RESULTED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS EXITING THE GLIDER, HE NOTICED THAT THE SPEED BRAKES WERE IN THE DEPLOYED POSITION, WHICH CORRELATED WITH THE POSITION OF THE SPEED BRAKE HANDLE.

## Factual narrative

On April 29, 1995, at 1605 eastern daylight time, a LET L-23 Super Blanik, N152AT, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at the Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport,  Spartanburg, South Carolina. The private pilot was not injured, and his passenger had minor injuries. The glider was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local, personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that the glider was not gaining sufficient airspeed during the takeoff roll. The tow plane pilot released the glider, and the takeoff was aborted. Due to obstructions at the departure end of the runway, the pilot attempted to maneuver the glider into an open area. The left wing contacted the ground first, and the glider ground looped. Structural damage to the wings and fuselage resulted. The pilot reported that when he was exiting the glider, he noticed that the speed brakes were in the deployed position, which correlated with the position of the speed brake handle.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N152AT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N152AT-1995-09-06), registration cancelled 1995-09-06, S/N 917924, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LET L-23 SUPER BLANIK (L-23 SUPER)
- Registry model: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK](https://openairdocs.org/model/let-l-23-super-blanik) (registry code 1360308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 917924
- Airframe hours: 100
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Harald W. Behrend
- Registered owner: David E. Treinis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 17, 1994, 10 hours before
- Departed: SPA
- Airport: SPA, Spartanburg Downtown, runway 5, 5,200 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,919 total, 7 in this make and model, 1,819 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GSP, 15 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19950429009899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950429009899A), Apr 29, 1995: Let L23, Spartanburg, SC, Substantial damage. Failed accelerate on tow. Pilot released glider. Aborted takeoff. Glider ground looped. Speed brakes were still on.

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.

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