Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK accident near Spartanburg, South Carolina, April 29, 1995
On April 29, 1995 at about 8:05 pm local time, a Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK (glider), registered N152AT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spartanburg, South Carolina (Spartanburg Downtown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent use speed brakes during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 1995 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Spartanburg, South Carolina · Spartanburg Downtown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK L-23 SUPER · all L-23 SUPER BLANIKs on the register
- Registration
- N152AT · no longer on the register · serial 917924
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,919 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,819 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 17, 1994; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,124 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from GSP, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.