Super Blanik stalls onto the runway after an unchecked flare input
An instructor was seriously injured, though the Super Blanik was only lightly damaged, when the glider stalled in the landing flare at Sterling and dropped onto the runway. A student early in training was flying the approach. As he moved to flare, the glider pitched up and stalled just above the runway. The instructor, in the rear seat, did not take over; he reported afterwards that he had not kept his hands close to the controls, ready to check an abrupt input and take over if needed. The student was not hurt.
- Training flight, student landing: A student early in training was flying the approach back to the airfield, with an instructor in the rear seat.
- Pitch-up as the student flares: As the student moved to flare, the glider pitched up beyond the angle of attack it could carry.
- Instructor does not take over: The instructor did not intervene. He reported afterwards that he had not kept his hands close to the controls, ready to check an abrupt input.
- Stall just above, hard landing: The glider stalled just above the runway and dropped onto it. The instructor was seriously injured; the student was unhurt and the glider only lightly damaged.