Pilot Debrief

LET L 33 SOLO near New Castle, VA — 2011-04-10

Final reportERA11LA234
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Date
2011-04-10
Location
New Castle, VA, USA
Airport
VA85
Aircraft
LET L 33 SOLO
Registration
N286BA
Category
Glider
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

Pilot incapacitation shortly after takeoff for unknown reasons.

NTSB narrative

Witnesses observed the pilot completing a preflight examination of the glider and stated that the glider's initial tow off the ground was uneventful. However, witnesses and the pilot of the tow plane stated that shortly after the glider lifted off, it began to fly erratically back and forth on tow with the air brakes somewhat extended. The pilot did not respond to a radio call from the tow plane pilot advising him of the floating air brakes. Witnesses and the tow plane pilot observed the glider positioned low and to the left of the tow plane before it suddenly climbed up and to the right. The tow rope broke and the glider stalled then spun to the ground. No preexisting malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the glider were noted. The floating air brakes were likely due to the pilot's failure to secure the handle before takeoff, but they should not have resulted in a loss of control and could have been easily corrected by the pilot. The pilot had recently successfully completed a flying club check ride, and the wind at the time of the accident was relatively light and should not have been a factor. The pilot's autopsy and toxicological results did not reveal any physiological issues that would have affected the flight. However, the glider's lack of mechanical anomalies, the benign weather conditions, and the pilot's recently-demonstrated flying abilities contrasted sharply with the glider's erratic flight path, the pilot's failure to correct a relatively easy air brake discrepancy, and his lack of response to a radio call. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot became incapacitated for unknown reasons just after takeoff.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Tow pilot could have released the glider earlier to prevent the accident.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 13 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents13

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