Event NYC94LA081

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. 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12