Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate glidepath and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the glider landing short of the runway in trees.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The flight instructor reported that, during the turn to final approach, the glider appeared to be above glidepath, so the student pilot used dive brakes to descend. He added that, once the glider returned to a normal glidepath, the student retracted the dive brakes, but the glider continued in a "higher than normal" descent rate. The flight instructor took control of the glider and landed short of the intended runway in trees. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot failed to submit a written statement after multiple requests.
Source record
Factual narrative
The flight instructor reported that, during the turn to final approach, the glider appeared to be above glidepath, so the student pilot used dive brakes to descend. He added that once the glider returned to a normal glidepath the student retracted the dive brakes, but the glider continued in a "higher than normal" descent rate. The flight instructor took control of the glider and landed short of the intended runway in trees. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot failed to submit a written statement after multiple requests.