# NTSB CHI05CA255: Let L 33 Solo, N93205, Stanton, MN, July 28, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 28, 2005, 13:35 local (18:35 UTC)
- Place: Stanton, MN
- Coordinates: 44.475555, -93.016387
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4756&lon=-93.0164&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62477
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA255
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62477/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA255

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during landing due to the wind gusts.  The wind gusts were a factor.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The glider was damaged during landing when the right wing struck the ground causing the glider to ground-loop.  The pilot reported experiencing extreme turbulence and a rapid descent while on final approach to land.  He stated that he retracted the glider's spoilers but the descent continued until the right wing struck the ground.  The recorded winds were 220 degrees at 4 knots gusting to 15 knots.

## Factual narrative

On July 28, 2005, about 1335 central daylight time, a Let L 33 Solo glider, N93205, piloted by a private pilot sustained substantial damage during landing on runway 18 (2,550 feet by 200 feet, turf), at the Stanton Airfield, Stanton, Minnesota.  The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.  The pilot was not injured.  The local flight originated about 1250.

In a written statement, the pilot said that while on final approach to land, he experienced extreme turbulence and a very rapid descent.  He stated that he immediately closed the glider's spoilers, but the rapid descent continued until the right wing impacted the ground and the glider ground-looped.

The winds recorded at an airport located 12 nautical miles northwest of the accident site were from 220 degrees magnetic at 4 knots gusting to 15 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N93205](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93205), registered now, S/N 930205, 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: 930205
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Keith A. McKinley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SYN, Stanton, MN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20050728023929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050728023929A), Jul 28, 2005: Let L33SOLO, Stanton, MN, Minor damage. (-23) Aircraft entered a left downwind, turned a short base leg. Winds had shifted from 180 degrees at approximately 10 KTS for takeoff to approximately 225…

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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