What happened
While preparing to initiate a base turn for a parallel sod runway, the pilot of a glider was contacted by the tower controller regarding traffic on a one-mile final for the paved runway. To reach the microphone stored in a pocket on the right side of the cockpit, the pilot released the spoiler handle, as the spoilers were partially deployed at that time. After informing the tower that the traffic was not in sight, the pilot returned the microphone to its pocket and reached back for the handle, only to discover that the spoilers had moved to the full open position.
The pilot immediately retracted the spoilers and completed a turn toward final approach. Upon reaching final, the pilot determined that the aircraft would likely be unable to reach the threshold of the sod runway. Due to the presence of an aircraft on final for the paved runway, the pilot decided not to request a change to that runway, despite its threshold being approximately 2,500 feet closer to his position.
As the pilot approached the sod runway threshold, maneuvers were attempted to avoid stakes located between the aircraft and the threshold, as well as to ensure landing clear of the paved runway. The aircraft touched down approximately 200 feet short of the sod runway threshold and 50 feet to the right of its right edge. While the initial touchdown in tall weeds was uneventful, the aircraft impacted a ditch during the landing roll.
Findings
The pilot was not injured.