Circumstances of the Accident
The pilot was flying a glider and entered the traffic pattern to land on a grass strip adjacent to runway 26. The wind was from the northwest at approximately 15 knots, gusting to about 20 knots. The pilot reported moderate turbulence on the downwind leg, which intensified on base and final approach.
The Stall and Landing
According to the pilot, the glider stalled approximately 8 feet above the touchdown point. The stall occurred because the glider's speed was insufficient for the prevailing conditions. As a result, the glider landed hard, and the impact broke the tail boom.
Pilot's Assessment
The pilot stated that the speed on base and final was insufficient for the conditions. No mechanical deficiencies or problems with the glider were reported by the pilot.
Findings
The accident sequence involved a stall at low altitude due to inadequate airspeed, followed by a hard landing that caused structural damage to the tail boom.