# NTSB GAA18CA093: Let L 23 Super Blanik, N389BA, Clermont, FL, December 23, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 23, 2017, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Clermont, FL
- Coordinates: 28.405834, -81.837776 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4058&lon=-81.8378&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 96536
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96536/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96536
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA093

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [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)
- [Object/animal/substance: airport structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); 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)
- [Landing: 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 reported that, during the first solo landing, the glider was "not straight" for the flare, and she attempted to correct with right rudder. Subsequently, she overcorrected, and the glider veered right and struck a hangar. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that, during the first solo landing, the glider was "not straight" for the flare and she attempted to correct with right rudder. Subsequently, she over corrected, the glider veered right, and struck a hangar. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N389BA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N389BA), registered now, S/N 018803, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LET L 23 SUPER BLANIK (NO SERIES)
- 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: 018803
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 4094
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2017
- Departed: 6FL0, Groveland, FL
- Destination: 6FL0, Groveland, FL
- Airport: 6FL0, Seminole Lake, runway 18, 3,000 × 200 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; seat: front; flight hours: 10 total, 7 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: KISM, 22 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 20171223023629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171223023629A), Dec 23, 2017: Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, Clermont, FL, Substantial damage. The canadian student pilot on a solo flight landed, over corrected and cross controlled the flight controls, veered off the runway striking a hangar with the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 15, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96536. 1.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 818 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460159&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Pictures (Courtesy of Flying Club) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 682 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460160&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures%20(Courtesy%20of%20Flying%20Club)-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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