L-13A Blaník lands hard after its glide flattens at 30 m on final

After the crew reacted late to a sink on final, an L-13A Blaník landed hard during a dual practice landing at Hosín; the pilot and instructor were unhurt and the glider was substantially damaged. At about 30 m the glide flattened; in the wind gradient near the ground the speed fell and the descent rate rose, and at about 10 m the glider sank. A witness saw no steepening of the glide or partial closing of the airbrakes, and full up-elevator only at about 1 m. On other approaches that day, pilots held the speed there by easing forward or partly closing the airbrakes.

1. Practice landing into marked area: A newly licensed pilot in continuing training and an instructor were winch-launched from RWY 06R at Hosín on their third circuit together, to land in a marked-out area on unused RWY 12.
2. Wind 22–30 km/h from 080–100°: The witness gave the wind as 22–30 km/h from 080–100°, the instructor 26 km/h from 100°. Approaches that day were flown into wind and steep.
3. Glide flattened at about 30 m: At about 30 m the glide angle flattened. The glider kept descending at that angle, and its descent rate rose as it entered the wind gradient near the ground.
4. Speed lost, glider sank at 10 m: The speed fell in the wind gradient. A witness saw no steepening of the glide or partial closing of the airbrakes; at about 10 m the glider sank.
5. Hard landing; both unhurt: A witness saw full up-elevator at about 1 m before the glider struck the ground hard. Both occupants were unhurt; the lower fuselage and main-gear mounting were deformed.