# NTSB ERA14LA391: Let L 23 Super Blanik, N266SE, Sylacauga, AL, August 17, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 17, 2014, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Sylacauga, AL
- Coordinates: 33.170326, -86.260833 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1703&lon=-86.2608&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 14, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89899
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14LA391
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89899/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89899
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA391

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's failure to properly assess her physical condition prior to conducting the flight.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Impairment/incapacitation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012000): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012000/cases.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was maneuvering the glider to land at the conclusion of a local solo flight. While turning to allow for spacing with another glider in the airport traffic pattern, the pilot "vaguely" recalled the glider entering an aerodynamic stall. The glider subsequently impacted a tree, resulting in serious injury to the student pilot and substantial damage to the glider. Two witnesses observed the accident glider in the traffic pattern, and both recounted that it entered a right spin before descending to ground impact. The pilot stated that her preflight inspection of the glider revealed no anomalies and that the glider performed normally throughout the flight. She further stated that she felt nauseated the morning of the accident, had taken an over-the-counter decongestant medication, and was not properly hydrated before or during the flight.

## Factual narrative

On August 17, 2014, about 1520 central daylight time, a Let L-23 Super Blanik glider, N266SE, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain while maneuvering for landing at Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal Airport (SCD), Sylacauga, Alabama. The student pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight, which was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot stated that she conducted a preflight inspection of the glider and added ballast for the solo flight. She described the tow as "normal," and after about 30 minutes of flight, elected to return to the airport. Her last recollection was turning the glider at an altitude of about 1,800 feet and airspeed of 45 knots to allow room for another glider in the pattern to land. She then "vaguely" remembered the glider entering an aerodynamic stall. She recalled impacting a tree, and subsequently egressing the glider. She stated that the glider performed normally throughout the flight, with no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. In a statement to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot stated that she felt nauseated on the morning of the accident, and had also taken an over-the-counter decongestant around 0800. She further stated that she was not properly hydrated before or during the flight, which may have contributed to her general condition. The pilot's flight instructor was flying with another student at the time of the accident. He did not witness the accident, but recalled seeing the accident glider in the traffic pattern for runway 27 at an altitude about 1,800 feet, and felt that it was "in a good position" to land behind his glider. A witness reported to the FAA inspector who responded to the scene that he observed the accident glider approach SCD from the north. He watched the glider enter a steep right bank followed by a stall. The glider recovered before subsequently entering a right spin. The witness observed the glider complete two full rotations in a near-vertical attitude before it disappeared from view behind a tree line. A second witness recounted that the accident glider was on the right downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 27 when it stalled and entered a spin. After about one half rotation, it appeared to recover before entering a second spin to the right. He stated that the glider completed two rotations before disappearing from view. The glider came to rest in a near-vertical position in trees approximately 1 mile north of runway 27 at SCD, and sustained substantial damage to the forward cabin area and wings. The pilot held a student pilot certificate, and reported 33 total hours of flight experience, of which 3 hours were in the accident glider make and model. According to FAA airworthiness records, the glider was manufactured in 1993. Its most recent annual inspection was completed in April 2014. The1535 weather observation at Thomas C Russell Field Airport (ALX), Alexander City, Alabama, located about 23 miles southeast of the accident site, included wind from 200 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 15 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear skies, and an altimeter setting of 30.01. Remarks noted distant lightning in all quadrants.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N266SE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N266SE-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 938107 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LET L 23 SUPER BLANIK
- Registry model: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK](https://openairdocs.org/model/let-l-23-super-blanik) (registry code 1360308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 938107
- Year built: 1993
- Airframe hours: 1896
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Central Alabama Soaring Association
- Registered owner: Central Alabama Soaring Association
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 2014
- Departed: SCD, Sylacauga, AL
- Destination: SCD, Sylacauga, AL
- Airport: SCD, Merkel Field Sylacauga Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 16; injuries: serious; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 33 total, 3 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Observed at: ALX, 23 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 20140817018639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140817018639A), Aug 17, 2014: Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, Sylacauga, AL, Substantial damage. During the approach to land at the Sylacauga, Alabama airport (scd), a student pilot allowed the aircraft to enter a steep spin to the right; the aircraft…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 13, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89899. 5.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 384 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418926&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- CFI Statement (item 2, .PDF, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418927&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418928&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statements (item 4, .PDF, 187 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418929&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - Glider at Rest (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418930&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Glider%20at%20Rest%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 540 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418931&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Fuselage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF

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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