L-13A Blaník settles into maize short of the airfield with its airbrakes extended

On a crosswind approach at Moravská Třebová, the pilot of an L-13A Blaník was uninjured when the glider, its airbrakes probably extended unnoticed, sank into maize about 40 m short of the airfield boundary; the glider was substantially damaged. After over an hour of local soaring the pilot gave up a planned 150 km cross-country in the strong wind and flew a wide right-hand circuit for RWY 26. In the combined third and fourth turn, at about 150 m AGL, the pilot was startled by a strong gust and partly lost concentration. The glider then sank at 3.5–4.5 m/s at a steady 78–81 km/h, and photos after the landing show the airbrakes out.

1. Local soaring, cross-country dropped: The pilot took an aerotow at 13:52 for a planned 150 km cross-country. In the brisk north-westerly wind the pilot soared near the airfield for over an hour, then gave up the task.
2. Crosswind above the manual limit: The crosswind component on RWY 26 was about 8.5 m/s, above the flight manual's 5.5 m/s. The pilot had landed in crosswinds beyond the limit before.
3. Wide right-hand circuit: From about 500 m AGL the pilot flew a wide right-hand circuit for RWY 26 and unlocked the airbrakes after the third turn, as usual; the glider drifted off the runway axis in the wind.
4. Startled by a gust in the final turn: In the combined third and fourth turn, at about 150 m AGL, the pilot was startled by a very strong gust and partly lost concentration.
5. Airbrakes out, 3.5–4.5 m/s sink: The glider then sank at 3.5–4.5 m/s at a steady 78–81 km/h, a rate the flight data match to open airbrakes. The pilot did not recall opening them; photos show them extended.
6. Airspeed held over the maize: Over the maize the pilot held a safe airspeed and used ground effect briefly, without pulling the glider toward the stall.
7. Into 4 m maize, 40 m short: The glider settled into maize about 4 m tall some 40 m short of the airfield boundary; the tailplane was torn from its mount and the elevator destroyed. The pilot was uninjured.