ASK 21 balloons off a high final and drops onto runway
On a student's third solo in an ASK 21, an unstabilized approach ended in a heavy drop; the student was seriously hurt, the glider lightly damaged. The final to runway 34 was high and, turned in late, ended ~120 m left of centreline and fast. After strong left/right corrections the student pushed the nose down, then — correctly told by radio to pull — pulled too hard. It ballooned to about 7 m, then sank through level with half airbrakes out, hitting the runway edge. The CG sat 10 mm behind the aft limit — two trim weights missing — which had helped it balloon. Causes: the unstabilized approach, a misjudged landing attitude, and the aft CG.
- Aerotow landing pattern: During the third solo flight after an aerotow in an ASK 21, the student entered the landing circuit for runway 34 with the CG 10 mm behind the aft limit.
- Aft CG beyond limit: The glider was flown with two trim weights missing, placing the centre of gravity 10 mm aft of the allowable rear limit, making pitch control more sensitive.
- High, offset final: The student flew a high base and final, turning into final too late and ending up about 120 m left of the runway 34 centreline.
- Aggressive course corrections: On final at about 120 km/h, the student first corrected slightly right, then made strong right and left corrections to regain the runway centreline, remaining high and under stress.
- Nose-down then over-pull: Shortly before the threshold the student pushed the nose down, increasing speed, then after the instructor’s radio call to 'pull' she pulled back too strongly on the stick.
- Balloon then sink: The glider ballooned to about 7 m above ground and then sank through in a nearly level attitude with half airbrakes extended and the nose slightly down.
- Crash - serious injury: The glider impacted near the right edge of the paved runway, causing serious injury to the student pilot and minor damage to the aircraft.