Stanton, MN, USA
N93205
LET L 33 Solo
The glider was damaged during landing when the right wing struck the ground causing the glider to ground-loop. The pilot reported experiencing extreme turbulence and a rapid descent while on final approach to land. He stated that he retracted the glider's spoilers but the descent continued until the right wing struck the ground. The recorded winds were 220 degrees at 4 knots gusting to 15 knots.
On July 28, 2005, about 1335 central daylight time, a Let L 33 Solo glider, N93205, piloted by a private pilot sustained substantial damage during landing on runway 18 (2,550 feet by 200 feet, turf), at the Stanton Airfield, Stanton, Minnesota. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The local flight originated about 1250. In a written statement, the pilot said that while on final approach to land, he experienced extreme turbulence and a very rapid descent. He stated that he immediately closed the glider's spoilers, but the rapid descent continued until the right wing impacted the ground and the glider ground-looped. The winds recorded at an airport located 12 nautical miles northwest of the accident site were from 220 degrees magnetic at 4 knots gusting to 15 knots.
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during landing due to the wind gusts. The wind gusts were a factor.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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