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.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The flight instructor of the glider reported that, during landing, about 100 above the ground, "a sink rate started to develop." He added that he took over the flight controls and closed the spoilers. The glider impacted the airport perimeter fence, landed short of the runway, and then slid into a culvert. The glider sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The flight instructor did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report.
Source record
Factual narrative
The flight instructor of a glider report that, during landing, about 100 above the ground, a "a sink rate started to develop". He added that, he took over the flight controls and closed the spoilers. The glider impacted the airport perimeter fence and landed short of the runway, then slid into a culvert. The glider sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The flight instructor failed to submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report.