# NTSB ERA21LA242: Let L-23 Super Blanik, N912B, Pittsfield, PA, May 31, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 31, 2021, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Pittsfield, PA · KP15 Airport
- Coordinates: 41.83294, -79.360671 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8329&lon=-79.3607&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA / FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103234
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA242
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103234/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103234
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA242

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and loss of directional control.

## 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 · Student/instructed 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: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot had completed a training flight to pattern altitude just prior to the accident flight with his flight instructor. After that flight, the glider was towed to 3,000 feet above ground level and released from the tow rope so the student pilot could get some solo practice. The total duration of the solo flight was approximately 1.5 hours. Nothing unusual occurred with the flight until the student pilot turned on to the final leg of the traffic pattern for landing. The glider descended quicker than usual as the student pilot had the airbrakes (wing spoilers) extended. The pilot also stated that developed a leg cramp in his right leg on final approach. The pilot subsequently landed the glider “hard” and after touchdown, the pilot lost directional control. The glider then veered off the left side of the runway, struck a runway light and a drainage culvert with the right wing leading edge and lower airbrake, and then struck a taxiway light with the left wing. The glider’s right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N912B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N912B), registered now, S/N 917912, built 1992 (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)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 917912
- Year built: 1992
- Airframe hours: 1274.3
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Brokenstraw Soaring Club Inc
- Registered owner: Brokenstraw Soaring Club Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2021
- Departed: P15, Pittsfield, PA
- Airport: P15, Brokenstraw, runway 27, 3,650 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; student; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 21 total, 21 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observed at: KJHW, 20 nm away
- METAR: KJHW 311756Z AUTO 27010KT 160V050 10SM CLR 17/03 A3030 RMK AO2 SLP266 T01720033 10172 20083 58013

## 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 20210531013249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210531013249A), May 31, 2021: Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, Pittsfield, PA, Substantial damage. On 5/31/2021 at approximately 14:00 local time, N912B sustained substantial damage during the rollout after a hard landing on runway 27 at P15. The student…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 14, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103234. 15.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 12.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12652340&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20Scanned_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 681 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12652651&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Excerpt from L-23 super blanik sailplane flight manual - use of airbrakes (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12654574&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Blanik_L23_manual-Rel.pdf
- Ground path after landing (accident site) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 591 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12652732&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12651949&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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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