Let L-23 SUPER BLANKIT accident near Waller, TX
On July 29, 2000, a Let L-23 SUPER BLANKIT (glider) was involved in an accident near Waller, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 29, 2000
- Place
- Waller, TX
- Aircraft
- Let L-23 SUPER BLANKIT · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 30.051°N, 95.920°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X21474
NTSB summary
On July 29, 2000, at 1500 central daylight time, a Let L-23 Super Blankit non-powered glider, N105LW, was destroyed when it impacted trees following a separation of the towrope and loss of control during the initial takeoff climb from the Houston Gliderport, Waller, Texas. The glider was registered to and operated by The Soaring Club of Houston, Houston, Texas. The private pilot, who held a glider rating, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot of the towplane, the takeoff from runway 17 was normal and while climbing through 600 feet agl he initiated a left turn to the east. He reported that as the airplane was turning he "felt the glider release from the tow," and he then banked hard left to give way to the glider. Subsequently, the pilot received a radio transmission that the glider had crashed, and he returned to the airport. Upon landing it was evident that the tow rope had separated, and the glider pilot had not released in the normal manner. According to witnesses, the initial climb-out "appeared quite normal" and "as usual, at the end of the airport the tow plane commenced a left turn." However, the glider continued straight ahead and it entered a climb. The glider was 250-300 feet agl when it began a "very uncoordinated turn to the right," and as it turned through 90 degrees, the "nose of the glider dropped and it entered a spin." Subsequently, the glider comp
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider while maneuvering. Contributory factors were the in-flight separation of the tow rope and the pilot's physical impairment from his use of diphenhyrdramine.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
