NTSB Factual Report

On May 10, 2007, about 1040 Pacific daylight time, a Burkhart Grob, G103 Twin II, N49443, stalled on short final approach and impacted the ground hard. The accident occurred at the Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, Nevada. The glider was substantially damaged, and the pilot received a minor injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local area solo instructional flight. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Minden about 1027.

The student held a private pilot certificate, airplane single engine land, and she was working to obtain a glider rating. In the student glider pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," she indicated that on short final approach the glider "encountered heavy sink, lost altitude, and landed 100 feet short of runway." She additionally reported that the accident could have been prevented if she had "more altitude/speed on final."

The student's certified flight instructor (CFI) reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he was monitoring his student's first solo flight, and he witnessed the accident. The CFI stated that his student's first three landings had been somewhat long. Before the student departed on her 4th flight, she stated to him that she would try to land shorter. The CFI reported that the glider appeared to be descending slowly, and when it was about 100 feet short of the approach end of runway 30 it stalled, rapidly descended and impacted the ground.

The student reported to the Safety Board investigator that the wind was light and variable. The CFI reported that he did not detect any wind gust. About 46 minutes after the accident the airport's automated weather observing system reported a calm wind condition.

Runway 30 is 5,300 feet long and 75 feet wide.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed, which led to an inadvertent stall.