Let L-23 accident near Arlington, Washington, May 5, 2001
On May 5, 2001 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Let L-23 (glider), registered N265BA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arlington, Washington (Arlington Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the flight instructor's improper decision to partially retract the spoilers while the student was attempting to land. Factors include a tailwind, wet grass, and a taxiway sign off the end of the landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2001 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Washington · Arlington Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let L-23 · all L-23s on the register
- Registration
- N265BA · registry record · serial 938024
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The dual student was about to land at the north end of the grass glider landing area when the instructor decided it would be best to land a little further down the runway. Without advising the student, the instructor partially retracted the spoilers so that the airplane would float further before touching down. With the spoilers partially retracted, and the wind momentarily switching to a tailwind, the glider drifted long, touched down on the wet grass, and departed the end of the intended landing area. After departing the landing area, the glider slid across a taxiway and impacted a taxiway identification sign.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,748 hours in all
- Last flight review: July 28, 1999
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 785 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 16, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,124 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AWO Arlington WA at 7:05 pm
- Destination: Arlington WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 1,660 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.