Let L 33 SOLO accident near New Castle, VA
On April 10, 2011, a Let L 33 SOLO (glider) was involved in an accident near New Castle, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 10, 2011
- Place
- New Castle, VA
- Aircraft
- Let L 33 SOLO · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 37.473°N, 80.103°W
- NTSB ID
- 20110410X30503
Official records · ERA11LA234
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 10, 2011, about 1445 eastern daylight time, a LET L33 Solo, N286BA, operated by the Blue Ridge Soaring Society (BRSS), was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly after taking off from New Castle International Airport (VA85), New Castle, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight, conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The glider was being towed aloft by the Society's Intermountain Callair A-9, and according to the tow plane pilot, it was his fourth tow of the day. Winds were about 8 mph from the south with clear skies and good visibility. During the ground roll and takeoff, everything felt "normal." However, shortly after takeoff, the tow pilot noted that they were not climbing as expected or as seen during the previous tows that day. He checked his instruments and saw no problems with the engine. The tow pilot then saw that the glider was "way out of position," and could also see the red air brake baffle paint, indicating that the glider's air brakes were open. The tow pilot immediately made a radio call to the glider pilot to alert him of the problem, but received no response. By that time, the glider was well off to the left and below the tow plane, and was pulling the tow plane's tail down, toward an angle of attack close to a stall. Looking over his left shoulder, the tow pilot could see that the glider's air brakes were still open. He came close to releasing the tow, but
Probable cause
Pilot incapacitation shortly after takeoff for unknown reasons.
More accidents in VA
- Boeing 757-200, Sep 11, 2001
- Beech B99, Sep 23, 1985
- Beech 65, Sep 10, 1995
- Beech 200, Oct 24, 2004
- Piper PA-31-310, Nov 14, 1982
Browse: Virginia · Let aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
