Apis-Bee stalls out of a third sideslip on a high first-flight approach

A pilot was seriously injured and his Apis-Bee substantially damaged when the glider stalled out of a sideslip on the approach at Columbia and hit the runway nose down. It was his first flight on the type. He had landed off the first circuit with the engine up and idling, then stowed it on the downwind leg of the second. Turning base he found himself high and opened the airbrakes, then judged that the glider needed more help down and slipped it; he slipped twice more, and on the third the nose dropped. The recorded cause was his failure to keep control of the glider on the landing approach.

1. First flight on the type: The pilot was flying the Apis-Bee for the first time. He completed one circuit and landed with the engine up and idling.
2. Engine stowed on the downwind leg: On the second circuit the pilot stowed the engine on the downwind leg, so the glider was flying as a sailplane from that point on.
3. High on the turn to base: Turning onto the base leg the pilot found the glider high on the approach, and opened the airbrakes.
4. Three sideslips to lose height: Judging that the glider needed more help down, the pilot put it into a sideslip, then slipped it twice more.
5. Nose drops on the third slip: On the third slip the nose dropped and the glider hit the runway nose down. The fuselage was substantially damaged and the pilot was seriously injured.