# NTSB WPR23LA362: Let L-23 Super Blanik, N438BA, Minden, NV, June 3, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 3, 2023, 14:05 local (21:05 UTC)
- Place: Minden, NV · On airport property.
- Coordinates: 39.000138, -119.75204 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0001&lon=-119.7520&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193470
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA362
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193470/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193470
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA362

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in an impact with a taxiway sign.

## 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: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1360308), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); 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 pilot of the glider reported that while on downwind, the tow airplane maneuvered to avoid another aircraft, which resulted in a slack tow line. The tow line subsequently broke, and the glider pilot initiated a landing to a nearby runway from about 900 ft above ground level (agl). During the landing roll, the glider drifted right, and the right wing impacted a taxiway sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N438BA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N438BA), registered now, S/N 029016, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LET L-23 SUPER BLANIK
- 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: 029016
- Year built: 2002
- Airframe hours: 2612.9
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol
- Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 26, 2023
- Airport: MEV, Minden-Tahoe, runway 34, 7,395 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 85; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review March 24, 2023; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,475 total, 13 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KMEV
- METAR: METAR KMEV 032115Z AUTO 21005KT 10SM CLR 25/01 A3006 RMK AO2=

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193470. 5.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16676327&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16677626&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array-Rel.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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