Let L23 accident near Bryan, Texas, December 2, 1996
On December 2, 1996 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Let L23 (glider), registered N290SB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bryan, Texas. It was a personal 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 pilot misjudged his distance and altitude during the landing approach. Factors relating to the accident were: the high obstructions (power lines), and subsequent tailwind during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 1996 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bryan, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let L23 · all L23s on the register
- Registration
- N290SB · registry record · serial 938029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the glider was released from the tow plane at 3,000 feet. After soaring for approximately 25 minutes in the vicinity of the airport, he maneuvered the glider to land on runway 17. The pilot added that on final approach, at approximately 250 feet AGL, 'the sail plane encountered a sink' and he realized that he would not be able to clear power lines at the approach end of the runway. The pilot stated that he elected to execute an 'off airport landing' in a field north of his position. The pilot turned right and executed a downwind landing with a 15 knot tailwind in the field that he had selected. During the landing roll, the root of the glider's right wing impacted a fence post.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 642 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 580 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 443 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 31, 1996; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,124 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CFD at 9:15 pm
- Destination: CFD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.