Incident Overview
A pilot had just landed and was taxiing to connect to another glider when the aircraft became stuck in soft dirt. Two ground crewmembers approached the aircraft. According to the pilot, he instructed one of them to stay behind the strut while he shut down the engine.
Sequence of Events
As the pilot turned to check on the other ground crewmember, he simultaneously pulled the mixture control to stop the engine. At that moment, he heard a thump. Looking back to the left, he saw the crewmember lying on the ground with serious injuries.
Pilot's Reflection
In retrospect, the pilot noted that shutting down the engine using the magneto switch would have been faster than cutting the mixture. The incident highlights the importance of clear communication and rapid engine shutdown procedures when ground personnel are near an aircraft.