# NTSB CEN24LA331: Let L 33 Solo, N133LB, Kingman, KS, September 1, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 1, 2024, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Kingman, KS · field
- Coordinates: 37.669016, -98.123892
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6690&lon=-98.1239&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 195041
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA331
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195041/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195041
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA331

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of control on short final.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Let L 33 SOLO, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1360309), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Let L 33 SOLO, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1360309), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Let L 33 SOLO, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1360309), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the local glider flight, he was unable to find sufficient lift to remain airborne. He selected a field that was within gliding distance and setup for landing. However, on short final, he became fixated on a small tree in the glide path. The airspeed decreased, and the glider entered an inadvertent aerodynamic stall. The subsequent impact with the terrain resulted in damage to the left wing spar and aft fuselage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures which precluded normal operation of the glider.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N133LB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N133LB), registered now, S/N 930202, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LET L 33 SOLO
- Registry model: [Let L 33 SOLO](https://openairdocs.org/model/let-l-33-solo) (registry code 1360309) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 930202
- Year built: 1993
- Airframe hours: 594.3
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2024, 11 hours before
- Departed: 9K8, Kingman, KS
- Destination: 9K8, Kingman, KS
- Airport: N/A, N/A
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 57 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: KICT, 30 nm away
- METAR: METAR KICT 012053Z 03010KT 10SM FEW180 31/17 A3013

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20240901017219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240901017219A), Sep 1, 2024: Let L 33 SOLO, Kingman, KS, Destroyed. The pilot reported that during the local glider flight, he was unable to find sufficient lift to Remain airborne. He selected a field that was within gliding…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195041. 2.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 473 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17700574&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Report%20--%20CEN24LA331_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot / glider logbook excerpts (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17700784&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA331%20--%20Logbook%20Excerpts_redacted-Rel.pdf

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.

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