What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On June 25, 2024 at ~1255 MDT, the PIC departed U14 as part of an organized glider event scheduled in Nephi ut. The flight was uneventful and the PIC began approach back to U14 utilizing runway 35. ASOS was reporting ~10 KTS wind from the north. The PIC slowed to 60 KTS on final (6 KTS above unballasted recommended approach speed). At ~50 feet AGL, the PIC experienced a wind shear causing them to manipulate the controls to a nose down attitude to maintain speed and attempted to flare. Before the PIC could complete the flare and roll the nose up, the aircraft impacted the runway at a slight nose down attitude striking the nose of the aircraft a few feet in front of the main gear. After clearing the runway, the PIC realized that they neglected to dump the 30 gallon water ballast. This increased weight also increased the recommended approach speed from 54 KTS to 73 KTS. The approach was too slow to accomplish the flare that would have corrected the wind shear.
As the FAA filed it
ON JUNE 25, 2024 AT ~1255 MDT, THE PIC DEPARTED U14 AS PART OF AN ORGANIZED GLIDER EVENT SCHEDULED IN NEPHI UT. THE FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL AND THE PIC BEGAN APPROACH BACK TO U14 UTILIZING RUNWAY 35. ASOS WAS REPORTING ~10 KTS WIND FROM THE NORTH. THE PIC SLOWED TO 60 KTS ON FINAL (6 KTS ABOVE UNBALLASTED RECOMMENDED APPROACH SPEED). AT ~50 FEET AGL, THE PIC EXPERIENCED A WIND SHEAR CAUSING THEM TO MANIPULATE THE CONTROLS TO A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE TO MAINTAIN SPEED AND ATTEMPTED TO FLARE. BEFORE THE PIC COULD COMPLETE THE FLARE AND ROLL THE NOSE UP, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE RUNWAY AT A SLIGHT NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE STRIKING THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT A FEW FEET IN FRONT OF THE MAIN GEAR. AFTER CLEARING THE RUNWAY, THE PIC REALIZED THAT THEY NEGLECTED TO DUMP THE 30 GALLON WATER BALLAST. THIS INCREASED WEIGHT ALSO INCREASED THE RECOMMENDED APPROACH SPEED FROM 54 KTS TO 73 KTS. THE APPROACH WAS TOO SLOW TO ACCOMPLISH THE FLARE THAT WOULD HAVE CORRECTED THE WIND SHEAR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.