Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's improper landing flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing and the instructor sustaining a serious injury.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The flight instructor reported that, while on final approach to land on a grass field adjacent to the runway and with the student pilot on the controls, a gyrocopter lifted off toward his glider. The student maneuvered away from the gyrocopter and then continued the approach. During the landing, the student flared too high, and despite the instructor's intervention, the glider landed hard. The glider was not damaged; however, the instructor sustained a serious injury. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
The glider flight instructor reported that, while on final approach for the grass field adjacent to the runway with the student pilot on controls, a gyrocopter lifted off towards the glider. The student maneuvered away, then continued the approach. During the landing the student flared too high, and despite the instructor's intervention, the glider landed hard. The glider was not damaged, however, the flight instructor sustained a serious injury. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.