What happened
During a flight involving a certified flight instructor and a student pilot, a glider experienced a significant increase in descent speed while positioned over the runway. According to the instructor, who was seated in the rear seat, the sink rate increased dramatically to a level that exceeded the parameters for a normal touchdown.
In an attempt to manage the descent, the pilot in the front seat applied full back stick input. This action caused the nose of the aircraft to rise, which significantly arrested the high sink rate. The landing sequence began with the tail wheel making contact with the ground, followed by the main wheels. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The instructor noted that the dive brakes were partially extended during the landing. However, it was not determined whether the brakes had been closed and subsequently reopened during the rollout or if they had remained in the open position throughout the landing phase.