What happened
The incident occurred while a glider was conducting a flight operation involving a student pilot under instruction. During the final phase of the approach to land, the student pilot experienced difficulty maintaining proper control of the aircraft. The glider failed to remain aligned with the runway centerline and descended below the desired glidepath, becoming both low and slow.
Recognizing the deteriorating situation, the instructor pilot assumed control of the glider to attempt a recovery or safe landing. Despite this intervention, the aircraft landed short of the paved surface. Upon touchdown or shortly thereafter, the glider collided with an object protruding from the ground near the runway threshold. This impact resulted in structural damage to the aircraft's main spar.
The investigation
Examination of the glider confirmed that the primary spar was damaged as a result of the collision with the ground-protruding object. The flight narrative indicates that loss of control and misalignment during the critical final approach phase were the precursors to the accident.