# NTSB IAD98LA046: Let L-23, N55BR, New Castle, VA, April 12, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 12, 1998, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: New Castle, VA
- Coordinates: 37.49937, -80.110588 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4994&lon=-80.1106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28289
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD98LA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28289/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA046

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the turn to reverse direction.  A factor was his improper use of the speed brake.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - speed brakes - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis

According to the student pilot, he had flown the glider for about an hour uneventfully.  During the landing, he overshot runway 36 and tried to make a 180 degree turn, but the glider stalled, and the right wing struck the ground. The pilot said there was no mechanical malfunction with the glider, and during the approach, he had mistakenly pushed the dive brake lever full forward in an attempt to fully open the dive brakes.  The airspeed had increased and he was half-way down the runway when he realized that he could not make a safe landing.

## Factual narrative

On April 12, 1998, at 1800 eastern daylight time, N55BR, a Let L-23 glider, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing at the New Castle Airport, New Castle, Virginia.  The student pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed.  The local, personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot he had flown for about an hour uneventfully.  During the landing, he overshot runway 36, and he tried to make a 180 degree turn, but the glider stalled, and the right wing struck the ground.

The pilot had over 38 hours of total flight experience, including 23 hours in make and model. He said that there was no mechanical malfunction with the glider, and he mistakenly pushed the dive brake lever full forward in an attempt to fully open the dive brakes.  The airspeed had increased, and he was half-way down the runway when he realized that he could not make a safe landing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55BR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55BR-2013-11-08), registration cancelled 2013-11-08, S/N 928001, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Let L-23
- 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: 928001
- Airframe hours: 451
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Blue Ridge Soaring Society
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 3, 1998, 21 hours before
- Departed: VA85, VA
- Airport: VA85, New Castle, runway 36, 2,600 × 300 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; student; medical: unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 38 total, 24 in this make and model, 12 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ROA, 13 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 19980412006519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980412006519A), Apr 12, 1998: Let L23, New Castle, VA, Substantial damage. Landing long. Pulled up to fly over trees but reveresed course. Stalled. Right wing hit. Glider cartwheeled. (.4)according to the student pilot, he had flown…

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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