NTSB Factual Report

The pilot had completed his first flight in his newly purchased glider earlier in the day. He stated that the flight lasted about 2.3 hours and was "an absolute pleasure." A witness familiar with the make and model of the accident glider had flown alongside the accident pilot in an identical glider during the flight, and stated that the accident pilot's takeoff, flight, and landing were "textbook examples." During the second flight of the day, the accident pilot was towed to 1,000 feet above ground level for the purpose of making a traffic pattern flight with a subsequent landing. The pilot stated that the downwind leg of the traffic pattern turning to the base leg was "high." The pilot applied full flaps, and stated that on the final leg of the traffic pattern, his sight picture was "still high," and the runway was "easily made." The pilot's sight picture then "quickly" changed to "short of the runway," and he realized he would not clear the trees prior to the runway. The pilot pitched up to avoid the trees, and after clearing them, "unloaded the wings" and "dived" into a parking lot. The glider impacted the parking lot and came to rest after the left wing impacted a tree. The glider sustained substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. Neither the pilot nor a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who examined the glider after the accident, reported any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. Several witnesses on the ground reported a noticeable subsidence of wind while the glider was on the final leg of the traffic pattern. The nearest weather reporting station, located approximately 50 miles northwest of the accident site, reported winds from 320 degrees at 10 knots at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath while on approach, resulting in landing short of the runway.