Sail Plane
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Glider; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 31; Flight Crew Total 9100; Flight Crew Type 1
Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors
Local training flight from ZZZ. PIC (Pilot-in-Command) was a highly experienced glider pilot receiving a dual flight from this reporter (CFI-Gliders) to demonstrate proficiency for becoming a 'mentor pilot' for this glider club. This was his second flight of this evolution and he had requested to do a simulated rope break. The flight was briefed with the tow pilot before takeoff and also between both pilots in the glider. The takeoff was an aero-tow behind the club tow aircraft and was uneventful. At 300-350 ft. AGL the release was actuated and the glider made an uneventful turn toward the runway end with ample altitude and airspeed. In the course of the approach the pilot-flying extended the air brakes and failed to retract them at an appropriate time to allow adequate remaining altitude for a normal landing on the runway. The pilot-not flying immediately told the pilot-flying to close the air brakes and such action by the pilot-flying was delayed until the pilot-not flying immediately closed the air brakes to avoid collision with the embankment at a lower level. The aircraft struck the end of the runway at a slope embankment about 2 feet below the grass runway surface elevation and came to rest upright and on the grass runway landing surface. Inspection revealed a wrinkle about 6' x 12' on the left lower fuselage just forward of the main landing gear door (single wheel landing gear). No other damage was immediately apparent and both occupants were uninjured and the glider was towed back to the tie down area and disassembled. Later inspection revealed a small wrinkle; about 1/4' height; on the upper surface of each wing about 18' outboard of the wing root.The pilot-flying is commercial rated in gliders and the pilot-not flying was commercial; CFI rated in gliders.Cause: Failure of pilot-flying to maintain adequate altitude on final approach caused by mismanagement of air brakes. Failure of pilot-not flying to recognize and intervene sooner with closing the air brakes when the pilot-flying failed to do so.
Glider Instructor reported that the student did not close the air brakes during a simulated rope break. There was inadequate altitude remaining to land on the runway and the glider contacted ground before the runway.