LAK-17 strikes trees after a flap-airbrake lever mix-up

A LAK-17 was substantially damaged in a tree strike after its pilot used the flap lever while reaching for the airbrakes on approach. Asked by an instructor in another glider to land short, the pilot was too high and fast on final and reached for the airbrakes but moved the similar flap lever instead. Not understanding why he could not descend, he overflew the runway twice, down to a few metres, half-turning at each end to realign. On the last low turn the glider, short of energy, could not clear the trees beside the strip. Little recent time on the type, no cockpit briefing, and the pressure to meet the request contributed.

1. Short-landing request on final: On downwind for runway 07, an instructor flying another glider asked him to make a short landing.
2. Reached for airbrakes, moved flaps: Too high and fast on final, he reached for the airbrakes to steepen his descent but moved the similar flap lever instead.
3. Could not descend, overflew: Unable to descend and not seeing his error, he overflew the runway down to a few metres.
4. Half-turns to realign: He tried a half-turn at each end of the runway to realign with the landing direction.
5. Low on energy in the last turn: On the last low turn the glider was short of energy and control was lost.
6. Struck the trees: The glider struck trees beside the runway, substantially damaged; the pilot climbed out unhurt.