What happened
On May 25, 2003, a single-seat Centrair 101 A "Pégase", registered F-CHLK, was performing a local flight at the Fayence aerodrome. Following a standard tow and release, the pilot was unable to locate rising air and subsequently decided to return to the unpaved runway 10 right for landing.
While the pilot reported a stabilized final approach, the aircraft made a hard touchdown on the runway, which caused the glider to bounce. In an attempt to regain level flight following the bounce, the pilot pushed the control column forward. This maneuver resulted in the aircraft striking the ground in a steep nose-down attitude, coming to a stop several dozen meters further down the runway. The pilot sustained injuries, and the aircraft incurred minor damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the landing phase and the pilot's experience with the specific aircraft type. Witnesses on the ground, including flight instructors, observed the approach and noted that the flare preceding the bounce appeared to be performed late.
Investigators also examined the pilot's training background. The pilot had primarily trained on wooden and fabric two-seat and single-seat gliders. In contrast, the Centrair 101 A is a high-performance composite glider, which possesses different handling characteristics and is more sensitive to control inputs than the pilot's previous training aircraft.