JACKSONVILLE, FL, USA
N254BA
Let L-23
The glider was towed about 5 miles north of the departure airport to an altitude of about 2,300 feet above ground level (agl). After soaring for about 20 minutes, the pilot decided to return to the airport. When the flight was about 5 miles from the airport at 1,600 feet agl, the pilot said, '...he encountered heavy sink, of about 400 to 500 feet per minute.' He elected to performed a 180 degree turn to reach a field for landing, but could not reach the intended landing area. He elected to stall into a tree to avoid homes.
On July 15, 1999, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Let L-23 glider, N254BA, registered to the North Florida Soaring Society Inc., collided with a tree during a forced landing near Herlong Airport, Jacksonville, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight. The glider was substantially damaged. The commercial-rated pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight had departed from the same airport about 1340. According to the pilot the tow airplane released the glider about 5 miles north of the departure airport at an altitude of about 2,300 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot stated, "...we soared for about 20 minutes, then traveled west for about 3 miles, when I decided to return to [the] airport. We were 5 miles at 1,600 feet agl. On return I encountered heavy sink, 400 to 500 feet per minute, I made a 180 [turn] to reach a field for landing, but could not reach it. I elected to stall into a tree to avoid homes."
the pilot's improper in-flight decisions allowing the glider to descend to a low altitude, resulting in a forced landing off the airport and subsequent impact with a tree.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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