# NTSB LAX06TA234: Let Super Blanik L-23, N381BA, Los Alamitos, CA, July 11, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: July 11, 2006, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Los Alamitos, CA - Coordinates: 33.79, -118.05194 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7900&lon=-118.0519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 64138 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06TA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64138/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06TA234 ## Probable cause failure of the winch operator to maintain an adequate winch tow speed, resulting in a stall and hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway - altitude - low - airspeed - not maintained, other person (cause) - stall/mush - encountered (cause) ## Analysis The glider stalled and collided with terrain during takeoff. The operator was using a winch to launch the glider and as the winch operator watched it become airborne, he diverted his eyes from the winch gauges. When he looked back at them, he realized that he was accelerating the glider faster than desired and he reduced the winch's power momentarily. The glider stalled at 80 feet above ground level and it landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The Glider Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-13) notes that a pilot should be ready for a takeoff any time that the towline is attached to the glider. It advises the pilot to smoothly raise the nose to the proper pitch attitude after liftoff, and watch for an increase in airspeed. The handbook says to avoid raising the nose too rapidly or steeply, as it may be difficult or impossible for the pilot to recover from the steep pitch attitude if the towline breaks or the launch mechanism loses power. It also says to avoid raising the nose too slowly, as the glider may gain excessive airspeed or not attain the planned release speed. If this situation occurs, it advises the pilot to pull the release, and land straight ahead. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 2006, about 1500 Pacific daylight time, a LET Super Blanik L-23 glider, N381BA, collided with terrain during takeoff from the US Army Airfield at Los Alamitos, California. The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was operating the airplane as a local instructional flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and the student pilot were not injured; the glider sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The CAP reported that they were using a winch to launch the glider. They were experimenting with a new plasma launch rope. With the new rope, the winch operator could not see the glider until it became airborne. As the winch operator watched the glider become airborne, he diverted his eyes from the winch gauges. When he looked back at them, he realized that he was accelerating it faster than he desired. He reduced the winch's power momentarily. The glider stalled at 80 feet above ground level. It landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The Glider Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-13) discusses a normal into the wind ground launch. It notes that a pilot should be ready for a takeoff any time that the towline is attached to the glider. It advises the pilot to smoothly raise the nose to the proper pitch attitude after liftoff, and watch for an increase in airspeed. The handbook says to avoid raising the nose too rapidly or steeply, as it may be difficult or impossible for the pilot to recover from the steep pitch attitude if the towline breaks or the launch mechanism loses power. It also says to avoid raising the nose too slowly, as the glider may gain excessive airspeed or not attain the planned release speed. If this situation occurs, it advises the pilot to pull the release, and land straight ahead. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N381BA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N381BA-2020-05-01), registration cancelled 2020-05-01, S/N 018801, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LET SUPER BLANIK 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: 018801 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - federal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: SLI, Los Alamitos, CA - Airport: SLI, Los Alamitos Army Airfield, runway 22L, 8,000 × 200 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review July 1, 2006; seat: rear - Student pilot; injuries: none; student; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: SLI ## 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 20060711030339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060711030339A), Jul 11, 2006: Let L23SUPERBLAN, Los Alamitos, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 11, 2006, about 1500 pacific daylight time, a blanik L23, N381BA, collided with terrain during takeoff from the us army airfield at Los Alamitos,… ## Other investigations on N381BA (1) 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. - [NTSB GAA15CA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA028), Mar 29, 2015: Let L23 - NO Series (N381BA), Los Alamitos, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadvertent deployment of the air brakes during initial climb, resulting in a loss of lift. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to identify and remediate the cause. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.