ASK 21 hard landing during training at Schänis airfield
On October 11, 1990, a student pilot flying an Alexander Schleicher ASK 21 at Schänis airfield in Switzerland experienced a hard landing. This was the pilot's third solo flight in the glider. During the approach, the glider was high and off-course, leading to a series of trajectory corrections. The instructor advised the pilot to pull up, but the maneuver was executed too forcefully, causing the glider to ascend and then descend abruptly. The student pilot sustained serious injuries, while the glider was slightly damaged.
- 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.