# Accident 20140413004529A: Let L 33 SOLO, Zebulon, NC, April 13, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 13, 2014, 15:40 local time
- Place: Zebulon, NC
- Airport: Crooked Creek Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9347° N, 78.2422° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9347&lon=-78.2422&mi=10
- Aircraft: N318BA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N318BA-2018-03-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Let L 33 SOLO (registry code 1360309, https://openairdocs.org/model/let-l-33-solo) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LET L 33 SOLO
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 17,600 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA199) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140413004529A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

N318BA WAS TOWED ALOFT BY A CESSNA 172M FLOWN BY TOW PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. EARLIER FLIGHTS REPORTED PLENTY OF THERMALS, CLOUD BASES OF 5500 FEET, AND GLIDERS EASILY REACHING 4500-5000 FEET, UNDER GOOD SOARING CONDITIONS. CONDITIONS WERE ALSO DESCRIBED AS GUSTY AND TURBULENT, WITH WINDS AVERAGING 5-10 KNOTS FROM THE SOUTH. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS TOWED ALOFT, JUST NORTHWEST OF RUNWAY 22 AT A DISTANCE ESTIMATED AT 1 MILE, AND RELEASED AT 2000 FT MSL IN A THERMAL THAT INDICATED LIFT OF 1200 FPM. MINUTES LATER, A RADIO CALL WAS MADE FOR RIGHT DOWNWIND. WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE GLIDER AS LOW OVER THE TREES, HEADING NORTH. AFTER THE SOUND OF THE IMPACT, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE GLIDER, WITH THE WING SEPARATED BUT RESTING ATOP THE FUSELAGE, AND THE GLIDER RESTING ON ITS SIDE FACING NORTH, AWAY FROM THE FIELD.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA14LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA199), Apr 13, 2014: Aircraft Industries A.S. L33 Solo (N318BA), Bunn, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed while approaching the airport, which resulted in a stall/mush.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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