Super Blanik strikes a runway light after a hard landing
A student pilot flying solo did not hold the flare on landing at Pittsfield; he was unhurt, but the right wing and fuselage of the Super Blanik were substantially damaged. The glider arrived hard on the grass runway, and after the touchdown he lost directional control and it ran off the left side. The right wing leading edge struck a runway light and a drainage culvert, and the left wing then struck a taxiway light. The flight was solo practice after a circuit flown with an instructor earlier the same day, and had lasted about an hour and a half after a release at 900 m AGL.
- Solo practice after a dual circuit: The student pilot had flown a circuit with an instructor, then took a tow to about 900 m AGL for solo practice lasting roughly an hour and a half.
- Circuit flown to final: Nothing unusual was reported until the glider turned onto the final leg of the circuit for landing.
- The flare is not held: The student did not hold the flare through the touchdown, and the glider arrived hard on the grass runway.
- Directional control lost: He lost directional control after the touchdown and the glider ran off the left side of the runway.
- Runway light and culvert struck: The right wing leading edge struck a runway light and a drainage culvert, and the left wing then struck a taxiway light. The right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged.