What happened
Witnesses observed the glider approaching the runway while appearing to be excessively high, fast, and crabbed. As the aircraft crossed over the runway, it rolled into a right turn while the nose pitched up. Shortly after this maneuver, the right wing struck three parked aircraft before the glider collided with the terrain.
During an interview on the evening of the accident, the pilot explained that he was attempting to land to the north due to a high and fast approach. To achieve this, he executed a right 270-degree turn. In a written statement submitted on June 25, 1984, the pilot attributed the abnormal approach and an uncommanded nose-high attitude just before impact to control inputs made by a passenger in the front seat.
The pilot's logs indicated only 3 hours of experience in this specific make and model of glider. He stated he had flown similar gliders in the late 1960s, totaling about 3.5 hours in the aircraft type. He further reported to investigators that he was accustomed to flying another glider model where 90-degree flaps allowed for steeper approaches and more rapid descents.
The investigation
Investigators examined the pilot's logs and statements regarding his experience level and familiarity with different glider configurations. The inquiry focused on the discrepancy between the pilot's expectations based on previous aircraft types and the actual handling characteristics of the glider involved in the accident.