Hard landing involving a Glaser-Dirks DG-200, VH-GWU, Benalla, Victoria, on 11 January 1994

The pilot was making his first flight in the aircraft type having done check flights in two other glider types on the previous day. After a 90-minute local flight he returned to the airfield and joined the circuit for a landing on the 080 degree strip.

The pilot reported that the approach was normal until just before touchdown when he closed the airbrakes. At this point the glider ballooned to approximately two metres above the ground and the airspeed decayed to less than 40 knots. The glider touched down heavily, hitting the ground tail first.

The investigation revealed that the pilot had misinterpreted information from an instructor regarding the use of the air brakes during landing. This resulted in the pilot using a faulty landing technique.