Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK N273BA accident near Benton, Tennessee

Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent extension of the wing airbrakes, which resulted in a loss of lift and subsequent landing prior to the runway.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was landing the glider at the conclusion of her third solo flight. She stated that on the base leg of the traffic pattern, the glider was lower and farther away from the runway than she intended. She "set" the wing airbrakes, turned onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, and the glider began to sink. The glider subsequently impacted the ground short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing spar and rear cockpit bulkhead. A postaccident examination of the glider revealed no evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The airbrakes were found fully deployed after the accident, and the pilot reported that she actually extended the airbrakes when she meant to stow them.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA12CA454 for the full record.