PIPERSVILLE, PA, USA
N298BA
Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK
The pilot had been soaring for approximately 2 hours when he lost sight of his intended landing site. As he lost altitude, he continued to slow the glider while looking for a field to land in. Just prior to touch down, he stalled the glider, which struck a tree, then hit the side of a barn before coming to rest up right.
On April 21, 1998, at 1420 eastern daylight time, a Let-23-23 (glider), N298BA, was substantially damaged during an off airport landing to a field near Pipersville, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot sustained serious injuries and the passenger received no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated from Vansant Airport (9N1), Pipersville, Pennsylvania, approximately 1220. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that he had been soaring for approximately 2 hours when he lost sight of Vansant Airport. He also stated, as he lost altitude, he continued to slow (the glider) while looking for a field to land in. Just prior to touch down, he stalled the glider, which struck a tree, and hit the side of a barn before coming to rest up right.
the pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude, while on an approach to an off-airport landing area, which resulted in a lack of airspeed and/or altitude to reach the intended landing area (undershoot), a stall or mush into tree(s), and collision with a barn.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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