On July 11, 2006, a Let SUPER BLANIK L-23 (registration N381BA) was involved in an aviation accident near Los Alamitos, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: failure of the winch operator to maintain an adequate winch tow speed, resulting in a stall and hard landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a winch launch, a glider stalled at 80 feet above ground level after the winch operator momentarily reduced power, resulting in a hard landing and substantial left wing damage.
Incident Overview
A glider experienced a stall and collision with terrain during a winch-assisted takeoff. The winch operator, after initially observing the glider become airborne, diverted attention from the winch gauges. Upon returning his gaze to the instruments, he noted the glider was accelerating faster than intended and briefly reduced winch power. The glider subsequently stalled at an altitude of approximately 80 feet above ground level and landed hard, causing substantial damage to the left wing.
Operational Context
The launch was conducted using a winch system, a common method for launching gliders. The sequence of events involved the winch operator managing the towline tension and speed. After the glider lifted off, the operator's momentary distraction led to an over-acceleration condition, which he attempted to correct by reducing power. The resulting loss of airspeed induced a stall at low altitude.
Aircraft Damage
The hard landing resulted in substantial structural damage to the left wing. No other damage details were provided in the report.
