What happened
On September 23, 2018, a Rolladen-Schneider LS4-B glider, registration LN-GCM, was performing a local training flight at Hokksund Airport (ENHS) in Norway. The pilot, who was flying under a student certificate, had been towed to an altitude of 1,000 meters for the flight. During the landing sequence for runway 28, the aircraft failed to reach the runway threshold, instead touching down on a field approximately 150 meters short of the pavement. The glider continued to slide for roughly 60 meters before striking a small grove of trees and bushes, which caused significant damage to both wings. No injuries were reported.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the Norwegian Gliding Association (NLF) and coordinated by the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA), examined the pilot's training progress, the aircraft's technical condition, and the flight procedures used. Technical inspections of the Rolladen-Schneider LS4-B confirmed that the altimeter, airspeed indicator, and wheel brakes were all fully functional and met all requirements. There were no mechanical failures contributing to the incident.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's training records and the flight school's adherence to standard operating procedures. The pilot, who had significant prior experience in powered aircraft, was in the early stages of glider training, having completed only 21 starts before achieving solo flight. The investigation focused on the execution of the landing pattern and the instructor's oversight of the student's progress.
Findings
Several contributing factors were identified that led to the undershoot. The pilot failed to maintain the standard landing pattern, specifically failing to monitor the required altitude at the 200-meter marker and not utilizing the airbrake effectively on final approach. The pilot reported experiencing unexpected sink and strong headwinds, which may have contributed to the short landing.
Crucially, the investigation found that the lack of adherence to standard landing procedures was the primary cause. The pilot's previous experience in powered aircraft likely created a false sense of proficiency, leading to deviations from glider-specific techniques. Furthermore, the flight school had not strictly verified that the student had mastered the specific glider landing pattern, and the school's internal requirements for type-specific checkouts had not been fully met for this aircraft type.