Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE N41FL accident near Moriarty, New Mexico

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate glidepath, which resulted in the glider landing on rough terrain short of the runway.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the glider reported that, while on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, he partially deployed the flight spoilers and extended his downwind leg as the glider was too high. He misjudged his distance to the runway during this time and the glider lost more altitude than the pilot had anticipated. The pilot flared during final; however, the glider impacted rough terrain short of the runway threshold. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR25LA015 for the full record.