# NTSB NYC01LA231: Let 33, N3301L, Bardstown, KY, September 30, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 2001, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Bardstown, KY - Coordinates: 37.809169, -85.46009 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8092&lon=-85.4601&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53573 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA231 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53573/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA231 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a nose-first, hard touchdown. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot departed on a local close traffic glider flight. After climbing above the traffic pattern altitude of 1,200 feet agl, he released from the tow-plane. Once free, he maneuvered the glider onto the downwind for runway 2, and radioed his position and intentions. He turned base approximately 700 feet agl, and made another radio announcement. About 500 feet agl, the pilot turned final and recalls having a good "angle" to his aiming point. About 150 to 200 feet from the aiming point and 10 feet agl, the indicated airspeed was approximately 50 knots. The pilot then shifted his attention outside the glider for the final phase of the landing. When the glider was about 3 feet agl and "near" the flare point, it started to drop "sharply." The glider touched down hard nose first, and then bounced back into the air. The pilot was able to maintain directional control while the glider made several more bounces before rolling out and coming to a stop. He then exited the airplane under his own power. The pilot had approximately 300 hours of total flight experience, with 7 hours of that in the accident glider make and model. In addition, he had flown 2.5 hours in the accident glider within 30 days of the accident. Examination of the glider revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 2001, at 1300 eastern daylight time, a Let 33 glider, N3301L, was substantially damaged during landing at the Samuels Field Airport (BRY), Bardstown, Kentucky. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight that departed Samuels Field. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he was planning on conducting three flights on the day of the accident. All of the flights were to be closed traffic, and the first flight was completed without incident. The pilot then departed on the second flight. After climbing above the traffic pattern altitude of 1,200 feet agl, the pilot released from the tow-plane. Once free, the pilot maneuvered the glider onto the downwind for runway 2, and radioed his position and intentions. The pilot turned base approximately 700 feet agl, and made another radio announcement. About 500 feet agl, he turned final and recalls having a good "angle" to his aiming point. About 150 to 200 feet from the aiming point and 10 feet agl, the indicated airspeed was approximately 50 knots. The pilot then shifted his attention outside the glider for the final phase of the landing. When the glider was about 3 feet agl and "near" the flare point, it started to drop "sharply." The glider touched down hard nose first on the runway, and then bounced back into the air. The pilot was able to maintain directional control while the glider made several more bounces before rolling out and coming to a stop. He then exited the glider under his own power. The pilot had approximately 300 hours of total flight experience, with 7 hours of that in the accident glider make and model. In addition, he had flown 2.5 hours in the accident glider within 30 days of the accident. Examination of the glider by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed a compression wrinkle around the entire tailboom just forward of the horizontal and vertical stabilizers with part of the compression wrinkle extending along the top of the tailboom to the aft part of the cockpit. During the examination, no preimpact failures or malfunctions where identified. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3301L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3301L-2017-09-08), registration cancelled 2017-09-08, S/N 930101, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LET 33 - Registry model: [Let L 33 SOLO](https://openairdocs.org/model/let-l-33-solo) (registry code 1360309) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 930101 - Airframe hours: 291 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Louisvile Soaring Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 2001, 35 hours before - Departed: BRY, BARDSTOWN, KY - Airport: BRY, Samuels Field, runway 2, 5,003 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review July 14, 2000; seat: single; flight hours: 300 total, 7 in this make and model, 298 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: SDF, 28 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 20010930028479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010930028479A), Sep 30, 2001: Let L33SOLO, Bardstown, KY, No damage. (-23) Pilot stated as he turned final and was 10 feet AGL the nose dropped sharply striking the runway. The aircraft bounced and came to rest. The aircraft… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.