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WPR23LA362

2023-06-03 · Minden, Nevada, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport MEV

Current FAA registration · N438BA

Make / Model
LET L-23 SUPER BLANIK
Year of manufacture
2002 · 21 years old at event
Engine
NONE NONE
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20021114
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A540F0

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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

Factual narrative

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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_WPR23LA362.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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