L-13 Blaník's tailplane hits wheat short of the runway as airbrakes open in the flare

On a pre-solo check flight at Vlašim, the student and instructor of an L-13 Blaník were unhurt and the glider substantially damaged when the airbrakes came out in the flare over wheat short of the runway. On final the student held 90 km/h with landing flap and airbrakes cracked open. He flared at the right height but over wheat about 70 cm tall, some 20 m short of the threshold. Pulling the stick back, he unintentionally pulled the airbrake handle too; the glider sank, lost half its tailplane in the wheat and landed hard. The cause was given as the unintended airbrake extension; the report found too little height over the crop to correct it.

1. Pre-solo check circuit: The student, flying with an instructor, was aerotowed from RWY 31 at Vlašim at 18:46 for a circuit: the check flight before his first solo and his eighth flight that day.
2. Final with flap, brakes cracked: On final to RWY 31 the student held about 90 km/h with the landing flap out and the airbrakes slightly open to adjust the descent.
3. Flare over tall wheat: He began the flare at the right height, but still over a field of wheat about 70 cm tall, some 20 m before the threshold markers.
4. Airbrakes pulled out in the flare: Pulling back on the stick, the student also pulled the airbrake handle, extending the airbrakes fully; the glider sank at once and the instructor could not react in time.
5. Tailplane torn off, hard landing: The tailplane caught the wheat, tearing its left half from the mount and damaging both elevators; the glider landed hard on the runway and stopped after a short roll.