# NTSB SEA01LA091: Let L-23, N265BA, Arlington, WA, May 5, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 5, 2001, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Arlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.179874, -121.669204 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1799&lon=-121.6692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Seattle FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52380 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52380/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA091 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's improper decision to partially retract the spoilers while the student was attempting to land. Factors include a tailwind, wet grass, and a taxiway sign off the end of the landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - improper decision, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - spoiler retraction - intentional, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - object - airport sign/marker (contributing factor) - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) ## Analysis The dual student was about to land at the north end of the grass glider landing area when the instructor decided it would be best to land a little further down the runway. Without advising the student, the instructor partially retracted the spoilers so that the airplane would float further before touching down. With the spoilers partially retracted, and the wind momentarily switching to a tailwind, the glider drifted long, touched down on the wet grass, and departed the end of the intended landing area. After departing the landing area, the glider slid across a taxiway and impacted a taxiway identification sign. ## Factual narrative On May 5, 2001, approximately 1300 Pacific daylight time, a LET L-23 glider, N265BA, collided with a taxiway identification sign during the landing roll at Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Washington. The certified flight instructor and his student were not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the Boeing Employees Gliding and Soaring Club, sustained substantial damage. The local 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, which departed the same location about 55 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the instructor pilot, the dual student was just about to land at the north end of the grass landing area, when he, the instructor, decided that it would be best to land further down the runway. Without advising the student, the instructor partially retracted the spoilers so that the aircraft would float further before touching down. With the spoilers partially retracted, the glider drifted long, touched down on the wet grass, and departed the end of the intended landing area prior to coming to a stop. After it slid off the end of the landing area, it crossed a taxiway and collided with a taxiway identification sign. According to the instructor, although the wind was a direct cross during the approach, after he partially retracted the spoilers, it seemed to switch to more of a tailwind. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N265BA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N265BA), registered now, S/N 938024, built 1993 (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: 938024 - Airframe hours: 785 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Boeing Employees Soaring Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 16, 2000 - Departed: AWO, Arlington, WA - Destination: Arlington, WA - Airport: AWO, Arlington Municipal, runway 16, 1,660 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; last flight review July 28, 1999; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,748 total - Student pilot; injuries: none ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken ## 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 20010505009859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010505009859A), May 5, 2001: Arlington, WA, No damage. (-23)Flight instructor was acting as PIC for a new club member who holds a glider certificate from poland but does not hold a us pilot certificate. During… 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.