N5711

On May 24, 2000, about 1600 Eastern Daylight Time, a Let L 33 SOLO (glider), N5711, was substantially damaged while landing at Caesar Creek Gliderport (2OH9), Waynesville, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that he completed an approximate 35 minute solo flight and returned to 2OH9 for landing on runway 27. He planned an "excess-energy" landing to account for headwinds and turbulence. According to his written statement:

"...failure to correctly execute the flair and control the subsequent Pilot Induced Oscillation resulted in excess loads between the aircraft's structure and the ground..."

The glider bounced several times, and came to rest on the grass runway. The pilot added that he had approximately 2 hours of total flight experience in the make and model accident glider.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The inspector observed structural damage to the bulkhead forward of the landing gear.

The reported winds at an airport approximately 10 miles away, at 1553, were from 250 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 18 knots.