Summary
On 7 April 2025 at 1305 UTC, a Schleicher AS-K 13 glider (registration G-DEVJ) experienced a hard landing at Lasham Airfield, Hampshire, during an instructor revalidation flight. The glider was occupied by a pilot-in-command (PIC) and a passenger instructor. The instructor sustained a serious spinal injury, while the PIC was uninjured. The glider was not damaged.
History of the Flight
The flight was conducted for instructor revalidation. Various manoeuvres had been completed before approaching to land. As the glider was about to land, the PIC, who was acting as a student, performed a ballooned landing – a sudden unwanted gain in height near the ground. The instructor immediately took control. The glider then landed tailwheel first and de-rotated rapidly before coming to a stop. During this landing, the instructor suffered a spinal injury.
Pilot's Assessment
In assessing the causal or contributory factors, the PIC identified two main issues. First, although he initiated the landing anomaly, and being paired with an experienced instructor under revalidation, he anticipated an extended float across the airfield to land. He considered that he should have been quicker to intervene and ensure the airbrakes were closed and remained closed, which would have prevented the rapid de-rotation. Second, he felt that his pre-flight brief should have made clearer that when he was roleplaying as the student, the instructor being revalidated must take care not to falsely assume he would fly to a high standard.
AAIB Comment
The AAIB noted that instructor revalidation flights in sport or general aviation are vitally important in ensuring the safety of students and their instructors. However, it accepted that they introduce a slight increased risk of a mishap when an unexpected or unusual input is made, particularly during the crucial phases of any flight.
Probable Cause
The official AAIB bulletin did not state a probable cause for this accident.