Ditch edge hit during landing, ASK-21, PH-1382, Biddinghuizen glider airfield, 20 April 2019
The ASK-21 performed an instruction flight with the instructor and aspiring member on board. It was the aspiring member’s second flight. It was the instructor’s ninth flight of the day. He stated that the wind speed varied at different altitudes on the day. The wind speed had dropped slightly at the end of the day, but it was still fluctuating. On the circuit’s base leg, the instructor noted that the glider’s altitude was a little high, but he decided not to use the airbrakes at this time. He opened the airbrakes completely at the start of the final leg in order to descend. Halfway through the final leg, the instructor closed the airbrakes by about 50%. The glider’s speed at that time was 90 km/h. When he felt that the glider would land too far ahead in the field, he decided to close the airbrakes further, eventually closing them completely. The instructor stated that the speed dropped to 80 km/h at an altitude of approximately 10 metres and the glider dropped, after which the base of the hull between the nose and main wheel hit the edge of a ditch in front of the landing field. The glider came to a full stop about 75 metres further, sustaining considerable damage. Both crewmembers were unharmed. They had heard the glider hit the ground but barely felt it. Later on, an impression of the glider’s main wheel was found on a bare piece of land on the edge of a crop field that, viewed towards the direction of flight, is in front of the landing field. The two fields are separated by the ditch. A trail of several metres was also visible in the crop field.
The instructor believes he estimated the wind incorrectly, resulting in an approach that was too low for the runway. The instructor had an LAPL(S) (Light Aircraft Pilot Licence Sailplane) and valid medical certificate. He had a total glider flight experience of 1,237 hours (5220 starts). He had flown 185 hours (941 starts) in the glider model in question.
This accident is publised in the Quarterly Aviation Report over the 2nd quarter of 2019.
