ASW 19 B lands 80 km/h too fast after a gear-airbrake lever mix-up

At Hodkovice, on a third flight on the type, the pilot of an ASW 19 B probably pulled the gear lever instead of the airbrake lever; the pilot was unhurt and the glider substantially damaged. With neither airbrakes nor gear extended the speed rose to 170 km/h at the threshold against the handbook 90; the glider touched 170 m beyond it, bounced, hit hard at 450 m and bounced a further 295 m. On the third contact the canopy shattered and the rear fuselage broke and twisted 90° to the left without tearing off. The glider slid 90 m on its belly and stopped 150 m short of the runway end.

1. New type, converted the day before: The pilot had flown since 1986, mostly on an ASW-20 with flaps, and the day before had converted to the ASW 19 B with theory from an instructor and two solo flights; this was the third flight on type.
2. No lift, return from 300 m: After an aerotow release about 2 km south of the field the pilot found no climb and turned back from about 300 m AGL, called the airfield radio and began the approach to RWY 01.
3. Probable gear/brake lever mix-up: The recorder showed a steady descent until the airbrakes were due, then a rising speed. The gear lever was found retracted and unlocked, and witnesses saw neither airbrakes nor gear out on final.
4. 170 km/h over the threshold: Speed built to 170 km/h at the threshold, 80 km/h above the handbook landing speed of 90. The runway looked ever shorter to the pilot, who pressed the glider towards the ground.
5. Three contacts, two long bounces: The glider touched 170 m past the threshold and bounced, came down hard at 450 m and bounced a further 295 m. A groove and pieces of skin from the second contact were found on the runway.
6. Canopy shatters, tail breaks: The third contact shattered the canopy and broke the rear fuselage about 1 m ahead of the fin, twisting it 90° left without tearing it off. The glider slid 90 m and stopped 150 m from the runway end.