# NTSB NYC00LA147: Let L 33 Solo, N5711, Waynesville, OH, May 24, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 24, 2000, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Waynesville, OH
- Coordinates: 39.52938, -84.079566 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5294&lon=-84.0796&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49321
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA147
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49321/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA147

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control.  Factors were gusty winds, and the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model accident glider.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he performed an excess energy approach to compensate for strong headwinds.  He added that he failed to correctly flare the glider, and a pilot induced oscillation resulted.  The glider struck the ground, and sustained substantial damage.  The pilot reported 2 hours of total flight experience in the make and model accident glider.  The reported winds at an airport approximately 10 miles away were from 250 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 18 knots.

## Factual narrative

On May 24, 2000, about 1600 Eastern Daylight Time, a Let L 33 SOLO (glider), N5711, was substantially damaged while landing at Caesar Creek Gliderport (2OH9), Waynesville, Ohio.  The certificated private pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that he completed an approximate 35 minute solo flight and returned to 2OH9 for landing on runway 27.  He planned an "excess-energy" landing to account for headwinds and turbulence.  According to his written statement:

"...failure to correctly execute the flair and control the subsequent Pilot Induced Oscillation resulted in excess loads between the aircraft's structure and the ground..."

The glider bounced several times, and came to rest on the grass runway.  The pilot added that he had approximately 2 hours of total flight experience in the make and model accident glider.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.  The inspector observed structural damage to the bulkhead forward of the landing gear.

The reported winds at an airport approximately 10 miles away, at 1553, were from 250 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 18 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5711](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5711-2001-04-10), registration cancelled 2001-04-10, S/N 940217 (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)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 9A0217
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Caesar Creek Soaring Club
- Registered owner: Soaring Society Of Dayton, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2000
- Departed: 2OH9
- Airport: 2OH9, Caesar Creek, runway 27, 2,800 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; medical: unknown; seat: center; flight hours: 250 total, 2 in this make and model, 207 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MGY, 10 nm away

## 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 20000524036899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000524036899A), May 24, 2000: Let L33SOLO, Waynesville, OH, No damage. (-23) On may 24, 2000, about 1600 EDT, a Let L-33 solo (glider), N5711, was substantially damaged while landing at Caesar Creek Gliderport (2OH9), waynesbille,…

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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