L-13A Blaník lands hard after the student reopens the airbrakes in a balloon drill

During a landing-correction exercise at Vrchlabí, a student reopened the airbrakes while correcting a 2–3 m balloon the instructor had simulated in the round-out, and the L-13A Blaník dropped about 2 m onto the grass runway; neither occupant was hurt, but the glider was substantially damaged. The student had first responded correctly, easing the stick forward and closing the airbrakes, then judged the speed sufficient and opened them fully again. The glider sank and struck on its main wheel, deforming the fuselage structure and the gear mounting. The instructor had not prepared to intervene after the demonstration and could not react in time.

1. Landing-correction exercise: A winch launch at 10:04 for a circuit practising the correction of faulty landings, with the student in front and the instructor behind.
2. Instructor simulates a balloon: In the round-out the instructor pulled the stick back to make the glider float up. A witness at the clubhouse saw it rise to 2–3 m above the runway.
3. Airbrakes reopened fully: The student eased the stick forward and closed the airbrakes, which stopped the climb, then opened them fully again at about 2 m.
4. Instructor not set to intervene: After the demonstration the instructor had taken no measures that would let him catch a wrong response, and could not react in time.
5. Drops about 2 m onto the runway: The glider sank and struck the grass on its main wheel about 50 m past the RWY 11 threshold, stopping after a very short roll. The fuselage structure and gear mounting were deformed.