- Date
- May 15, 1994, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- New Castle, VA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N23BRLet Super Blanik L-33
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940515010779A
- Case key
- 38752
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper use of the flight controls resulting in failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the approach for landing. A factor in this accident was the pilot's lack of total experience in this type of glider.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot had less than 1 hour of previous experience in this make and model glider. During the initial climb, between 100 and 200 feet above the ground (AGL), turbulence was encountered by the tow plane and the glider. During the downwind climb, at approximately 400 feet AGL, and 300 feet from the edge of the runway, the glider pilot released the tow. Before reaching the end of the runway the pilot initiated a turn onto the base leg and continued the turn to final. The pilot estimated his sink rate on final at 2600 feet per minute. The glider landed short of the runway, hit tractor ruts, and skewed about 80 degrees to the left and stopped short of the runway. Witnesses reported that they observed the glider spoilers deployed, from base leg to landing.
Factual narrative
On May 15, 1994, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a LET Blanik Glider, L-33, N23BR, piloted by Banner B. Brown, was substantially damaged while landing at the New Castle Airport, New Castle, Virginia. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91.
In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that the winds at the time of takeoff were from 190 degrees at 15 gusting to 20 knots. During the initial climb, at 100 feet above the ground (AGL), mild turbulence was encountered. At 200 feet AGL the turbulence increased. The pilot further stated:
"...About 250 feet AGL turned crosswind and continued turn downwind. Tow plane lost altitude rapidly and stabilized about 50 feet above trees...Towplane slowly gained altitude. Released about 100 yards from edge of field at 400 feet AGL...[I] turned right with slight pull up which coincided with downwind (north) pattern. Turned base just before end of runway...continued to turn final...Estimated sink on final at 30 knots [2600 feet per minute]. Hit at landing attitude...Hit deep tractor ruts and skewed about 80 degrees to the left and stopped about 100 feet from cut grass of runway..."
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's report, the pilot stated the glider had excessive altitude loss after turning onto the base leg. Witnesses stated to the FAA Inspector that the glider spoilers were deployed from the point the aircraft turned onto base leg to landing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N23BR
- Reported as
- Let Super Blanik L-33 (SUPER BLAN)
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 940208
- Airframe hours
- 20
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Blue Ridge Soaring Society Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 1994 · 20 hours before
- Airport
- VA85 · New Castle, runway 18, 2,400 × 300 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 260 total · 1 in this make and model · 190 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 16 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 12,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ROA, 11 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.