Summary
On March 01, 2020, a Let L 23 SUPER BLANIK (N296BA) was involved in an accident near Huntsville, AL. The accident resulted in 2 serious injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain glider control and his exceedance of the glider's critical angle of attack while maneuvering in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
According to the glider pilot, the purpose of the flight was to release from the tow about 300 ft above ground level, return to the airport, and land on the departure runway in the opposite direction, which would simulate the response to a "rope-break" emergency during the initial climb. After departure from runway 27 and release from the tow, the pilot completed a 270° turn (to his right) on the north side of the runway and had a 90°, left base-to-final turn remaining to return to the runway.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA20CA116. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N296BA.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain glider control and his exceedance of the glider's critical angle of attack while maneuvering in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
According to the glider pilot, the purpose of the flight was to release from the tow about 300 ft above ground level, return to the airport, and land on the departure runway in the opposite direction, which would simulate the response to a "rope-break" emergency during the initial climb. After departure from runway 27 and release from the tow, the pilot completed a 270° turn (to his right) on the north side of the runway and had a 90°, left base-to-final turn remaining to return to the runway. While still on the base leg, the glider encountered an 11-knot wind from the south that gusted to 18 knots, and the pilot surmised that he must have encountered "wind shear" as he "lost all elevator control" and impacted terrain.Postaccident examination of the flight control system did not reveal any anomalies and the pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA20CA116