N388BA – LET L 33 SOLO – 2011-08-17 NTSB Accident Report

On August 17, 2011, a Let L 33 SOLO (N388BA) was involved in an incident near Wakefield, VA. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, resulting in an off-airport landing.

The pilot stated that the glider was at 2,500 feet as he neared the completion of the second leg of his three-leg cross-country flight. He searched for lift and a suitable off-airport landing site simultaneously, in case he was unable to find lift. The glider encountered sink, and the pilot completed a landing to a soybean field. The glider touched down one-quarter mile prior to the point of intended landing and ground-looped, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA11CA465. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N388BA.