LET L 33 SOLO
Sparks, NV — May 22, 2011
Event Information
| Date | May 22, 2011 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR11CA231 |
| Event ID | 20110523X70841 |
| Location | Sparks, NV |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 39.54472, -119.77805 |
| Airport | Air Sailing Gliderport |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | LET |
| Model | L 33 SOLO |
| Category | GLI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that after an uneventful cross-country flight, he returned to the airport to land with a 5 to 7 knot headwind down the runway. A witness stated to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that during the landing flare, at a height of approximately 5 feet, the pilot appeared to be at "a very high angle of attack". Subsequently, the airplane appeared to stall and land hard on the runway, substantially damaging both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal flight.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.