What happened
On June 30, 2004, a Grob G 102 - 77 Astir CS glider, registered F-CEXZ, was performing a solo local flight at the Bordeaux-Léognan-Saucats aerodrome. While integrating into the traffic pattern for the unpaved runway 21, the pilot began the base leg at an altitude of approximately 350 meters with the airbrakes extended to an intermediate position. As the pilot entered the final approach, they realized the aircraft was below the required glide path.
In an attempt to correct the descent, the pilot attempted to retract the airbrakes but inadvertently moved the control lever in the opposite direction. This caused the airbrakes to extend fully. Realizing the aircraft could not reach the runway threshold, the pilot opted to land on the ground before the runway. During the landing roll, the right wing struck a tree, and the tail boom broke after the empennage hit the ground. The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the aircraft was heavily damaged.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's actions during the final approach and the mechanical operation of the airbrake lever. The pilot, a trainee with 53 total flight hours, noted that they were not accustomed to using runway 21 and had followed a base leg trajectory that was wider than recommended. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's training history, noting that flight training had been interrupted several times since 2000.