ASW 20 stalls in steep turn after landing-gear lever mistaken for airbrake

A pilot was fatally injured when an ASW 20 stalled and struck the ground nose-down on a landing approach at a Devon gliding site. Witnesses saw it fly low along the field, too high to land in the length remaining; near the upwind end it entered a steep right turn, the airspeed fell and the nose dropped. The pilot had probably operated the landing-gear lever instead of the airbrake, then the flap lever, so it held height instead of descending. Fatigue, heat, unfamiliarity with the type and the similar controls were considered contributory. A poorly fitted control-stick grip separated on impact, exposing the tube that caused the fatal injury.

1. Low approach, low time on type: Returning from a 64-minute flight, the pilot flew a low approach to land near the hangar, with only about 11 hours on the ASW 20 and normally flying single-lever gliders.
2. Gear lever operated, not airbrake: On the ASW 20 the landing-gear and airbrake levers sit close together and feel alike; the pilot probably moved the gear lever instead of the airbrake, retracting the gear and deploying no airbrake.
3. No airbrake — glider holds height: Without airbrake drag the glider kept its height along the field, overtaking a lower glider and staying too high to land in the length remaining.
4. Flap lever worked, still no brake: The pilot then appears to have cycled the flap lever, again not the airbrake, so the approach never descended.
5. Steep low turn, speed bleeds off: Near the upwind end he entered a steep right turn of 60-80° bank with a slight pull-up, and the airspeed fell toward the raised stalling speed.
6. Stall and nose-down impact: The glider stalled, dropped its nose and struck the ground steeply; the pilot was fatally injured. Fatigue and heat were also considered contributory.