Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK accident near Pittsfield, Pennsylvania, May 31, 2021
On May 31, 2021 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1992 Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK (glider), registered N912B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Pittsfield, Pennsylvania (Brokenstraw airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2021 · about 6:00 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Pittsfield, Pennsylvania · Brokenstraw · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK, built 1992 · all L-23 SUPER BLANIKs on the register
- Registration
- N912B · registry record · serial 917912
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot had completed a training flight to pattern altitude just prior to the accident flight with his flight instructor. After that flight, the glider was towed to 3,000 feet above ground level and released from the tow rope so the student pilot could get some solo practice. The total duration of the solo flight was approximately 1.5 hours. Nothing unusual occurred with the flight until the student pilot turned on to the final leg of the traffic pattern for landing. The glider descended quicker than usual as the student pilot had the airbrakes (wing spoilers) extended. The pilot also stated that developed a leg cramp in his right leg on final approach. The pilot subsequently landed the glider “hard” and after touchdown, the pilot lost directional control. The glider then veered off the left side of the runway, struck a runway light and a drainage culvert with the right wing leading edge and lower airbrake, and then struck a taxiway light with the left wing. The glider’s right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 21 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,274.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,124 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operator: Brokenstraw Soaring Club INC
The flight
- Departed from: P15 Pittsfield PA at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,650 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KJHW, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KJHW 311756Z AUTO 27010KT 160V050 10SM CLR 17/03 A3030 RMK AO2 SLP266 T01720033 10172 20083 58013
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Main Wreckage –
Photo 2 – Area of Right Lower Wing Root –
Photo 3 – Damage to Right Wing –
Photo 4 – Damage to Right Wingtip –
Photo 5 – Tire Mark from N912B –
Photo 6 – Culvert –The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on September 14, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpt from L-23 Super Blanik Sailplane Flight Manual - Use of Airbrakes | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Ground Path After Landing (Accident Site) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N912B on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Let L-23 83 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Let 178 aircraft on the register
- Accidents and incidents in Pennsylvania 1,836 since 1982 · 234 in the last ten years
- Pennsylvania 6,194 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA21LA242.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.