Incident Overview
A glider pilot approaching an airport for landing found the glider slightly high on the approach. To increase descent rate, the pilot pulled what she believed was the spoiler handle twice, hearing a sound she interpreted as spoiler deployment. However, she did not visually confirm the spoiler activation. In fact, she had pulled the flap handle instead.
Sequence of Events
The misidentification caused the glider to overshoot the runway. The pilot decided to land on a road adjacent to the departure end of the runway. During the landing on the road, the glider struck a tree, severing the right wing. The glider then ground-looped, and the empennage was also torn off.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that the flap handle is located next to the spoiler handle and that both handles are identical in appearance. Post-accident examination revealed that the flap handle was found unlocked and half deployed, while the spoiler handle remained stowed.