Incident Overview
On 5 May 2018, at approximately 14:26 LMT, a pilot with 613 total flight hours was flying a SZD-51-1 Junior glider from the Gliwice Aeroclub airfield (EPGL). During the second flight of the day, after an unsuccessful attempt to use thermal lift, the pilot approached to land on runway 09. He maintained an increased speed of about 100-110 km/h due to a rear-side wind.
Sequence of Events
While at a height of about 8 meters, the pilot closed the air brakes and pitched the glider nose-down by pushing the control stick forward. According to the pilot's statement, the reduction of air brakes and the change in approach angle were prompted by the presence of two people on the approach path who were not watching the glider and whom he intended to avoid. The glider struck the ground without a flare phase, with a high pitch angle. Contact of the forward fuselage with the grassy runway surface caused the glider to rebound to a height of about 1 meter. It rolled for about 200 meters before stopping.
Outcome
The pilot sustained no injuries. The glider was grounded pending repair of fuselage damage.
Cause
The investigating entity determined the cause to be a piloting technique error consisting of performing a landing without a flare phase.