On April 12, 1998, a Let L-23 (registration N55BR) was involved in an aviation accident near New Castle, VA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the turn to reverse direction. A factor was his improper use of the speed brake. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot reported that his glider stalled and the right wing struck the ground after he overshot runway 36 and attempted a 180-degree turn. He had mistakenly pushed the dive brake lever forward during the approach.
Incident Details
A student pilot was flying a glider and reported an uneventful flight lasting approximately one hour. During the landing phase on runway 36, the glider overshot the intended touchdown point. The pilot attempted to execute a 180-degree turn to realign for landing, but the glider stalled during the maneuver, causing the right wing to strike the ground.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction with the glider. He explained that during the approach, he mistakenly pushed the dive brake lever fully forward, intending to fully open the dive brakes. This action increased the airspeed. As the glider progressed down the runway, the pilot realized when he was halfway down that a safe landing could not be achieved. He then initiated the 180-degree turn, which led to the stall and subsequent ground contact with the right wing.