Let L 33 SOLO N388BA
17 August 2011 · Wakefield, Virginia, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 17 August 2011 at about 16:26 local time, a Let L 33 SOLO registered N388BA, operated by Tidewater Soaring Society, was involved in an accident near Wakefield, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:26
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Wakefield, Virginia, United States
- Coordinates
- 36.9700, -76.9589
- Aircraft
- Let L 33 SOLO
- Registration
- N388BA
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Tidewater Soaring Society
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Windsor → Windsor
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA11CA465
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, resulting in an off-airport landing.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot stated that the glider was at 2,500 feet as he searched for lift and a suitable off-airport landing site simultaneously. Shortly thereafter, the glider lost lift, and the pilot landed in a soybean field. During the landing, the glider touched down 1/4 mile short of the planned touchdown point and ground looped, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Let L-33 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 May 2011 | Let L 33 SOLO | Sparks, Nevada, United States | Sierra Fliers LLC | No injuries | - |
| 10 Apr 2011 | Let L 33 SOLO | New Castle, Virginia, United States | Blue Ridge Soaring Society Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 Aug 2010 | Let L 33 SOLO | Adelanto, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Nov 2007 | Let L-33 SOLO | Louisburg, North Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 2005 | Let L 33 SOLO | Stanton, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 May 2020 | Let L 33 SOLO | Arlington, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Aug 2011 | Piper PA46 | Manasses, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Apr 2011 | Cessna 210D | Altavista, Virginia, United States | DI Giulio Robert H | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 Nov 2011 | Sigmon Harvey E VANS RV 6 | Abingdon, Virginia, United States | Seats Frank R | No injuries | - |
| 6 Oct 2011 | Rivers William J KR-2 | Wytheville, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 5 Oct 2011 | Cessna 180J | Norfolk, Virginia, United States | Crider Michael A | No injuries | - |
| 24 Apr 2011 | Cessna 182A | Galax, Virginia, United States | N4920D LLC | Minor injuries | - |