Incident Overview
A glider pilot reported that during approach to the north end of runway 17 for landing, the aircraft encountered sinking air. The pilot stated that while there is normally a nominal amount of sinking air near the north end of the runway, on the day of the incident the sink was far greater than expected.
Sequence of Events
The glider landed approximately 200 feet short of the runway. It impacted a 3-foot high berm next to an irrigation ditch that ran perpendicular to the runway. The impact occurred at approximately 50 knots. The glider was “catapulted” over the ditch, and the pilot immediately nosed the aircraft down to avoid a stall. The glider then landed flat and hard, crushing the landing gear, and skidded to a halt 75 feet past the runway apron.
Aircraft Damage
As a result of the hard landing and skid, the glider sustained structural damage. The keel beam and wing spars were broken.
Pilot Statement
The pilot attributed the short landing to unexpectedly strong sinking air near the runway threshold. No other factors were mentioned in the report.