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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

April 29, 1995 · Let L-23 Super Blanik L-23 Super · N152AT

Spartanburg, SC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 29, 1995
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Spartanburg, SC
Aircraft
Let L-23 Super Blanik L-23 Super
Tail Number
N152AT
Operator
Harald W Behrend
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL95LA093

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER WAS NOT GAINING SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE TOW PLANE PILOT RELEASED THE GLIDER, AND THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED. DUE TO OBSTRUCTIONS AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE GLIDER INTO AN OPEN AREA. THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND FIRST, AND THE GLIDER GROUND LOOPED. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE RESULTED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS EXITING THE GLIDER, HE NOTICED THAT THE SPEED BRAKES WERE IN THE DEPLOYED POSITION, WHICH CORRELATED WITH THE POSITION OF THE SPEED BRAKE HANDLE.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadvertent use speed brakes during takeoff.

Full Narrative

On April 29, 1995, at 1605 eastern daylight time, a LET L-23 Super Blanik, N152AT, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at the Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport, Spartanburg, South Carolina. The private pilot was not injured, and his passenger had minor injuries. The glider was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local, personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that the glider was not gaining sufficient airspeed during the takeoff roll. The tow plane pilot released the glider, and the takeoff was aborted. Due to obstructions at the departure end of the runway, the pilot attempted to maneuver the glider into an open area. The left wing contacted the ground first, and the glider ground looped. Structural damage to the wings and fuselage resulted. The pilot reported that when he was exiting the glider, he noticed that the speed brakes were in the deployed position, which correlated with the position of the speed brake handle.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:05 EDT
Nearest AirportSpartanburg Downtown (1nm NE)
Runway5
Runway Length5200 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLet L-23 Super Blanik L-23 Super
Tail NumberN152AT
Aircraft CategoryGli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorHarald W Behrend
Operating RulePart 91
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 54 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 3 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point46
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time19:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data