Let L23 - NO SERIES accident near Los Alamitos, California, March 29, 2015
On March 29, 2015 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 2001 Let L23 - NO SERIES (glider), registered N381BA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Los Alamitos, California (Los Alamitos Aaf airport). It was an instructional 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 inadvertent deployment of the air brakes during initial climb, resulting in a loss of lift. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to identify and remediate the cause.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2015 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Los Alamitos, California · Los Alamitos Aaf · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let L23 - NO SERIES NO SERIES, built 2001 · all L23 - NO SERIESs on the register
- Registration
- N381BA · no longer on the register · serial 018801
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider instructor was giving an introduction flight. During the tow-plane assisted launch, the glider's air brakes were inadvertently deployed. The tow plane was unable to obtain a positive rate of climb, so the tow-plane pilot signaled for a glider disconnect. The glider pilot released the glider from the tow plane, about 175 feet above the ground. After the release the pilot made a 125 degree right turn to land on an adjacent taxiway and touched down with a high descent rate. During the landing the glider sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right aileron, and fuselage. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The passenger was not injured. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider prior to the accident that would have resulted in abnormal operation of the glider. In addition, he reported that he accomplished a pre-launch checklist prior to the flight and that the launch was more turbulent than normal. He remarked that the accident could have been prevented if he would have landed straight ahead instead of making the right turn. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the air brakes deploy during the launch.
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
- Glider tow event during initial climb
- Loss of lift during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Configuration › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 30,681 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 21,876 as pilot in command; 2,926 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 7, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 391.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 2014; 8 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: SLI Los Alamitos CA at 7:45 pm
- Destination: SLI Los Alamitos CA
- Runway 22R, 5,900 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:58 pm from KSLI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 21, 2015. 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 | Photo 1 – Rear View of Right Wing and Aileron (Photo Courtesy of Cap) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 2 – View of Fuselage-tail Damage (Photo Courtesy of Cap) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N381BA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.