LAX06CA021

The pilot intentionally ground looped the glider and struck a berm after overshooting the desired touchdown point on the landing runway. The pilot was performing a high parasite drag maneuver on landing. On approach he realized that he would overshoot the first half of the runway and chose to land on the second half. The pilot reached for the spoiler handle, but by mistake pulled the gear handle instead and inadvertently retracted the gear. The glider touched down on the runway at approximately 70 knots. The pilot feared he would strike a berm at the end of the runway head on and intentionally ground looped the glider, striking the berm at a 90-degree angle to the left. The glider was destroyed, and the pilot received minor injuries.

On October 29, 2005, about 1520 Pacific standard time, a Glaser Dirks DG-300, N30AS, ground looped and collided with terrain in California City, California. The private pilot was operating the glider under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries; the glider was destroyed. The local flight departed California City Airport about 1410. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The approximate global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the primary wreckage were 35 degrees 09 minutes north latitude and 118 degrees 00 minutes west longitude.

In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot stated that he intentionally ground looped the glider after attempting to land on the runway. The pilot was performing a high parasite drag maneuver on landing. On approach, he realized that he would overshoot the first half of the runway and chose to land on the second half. The pilot reached for the spoiler handle, but pulled the gear handle inadvertently retracting the gear. The glider touched down on the runway at approximately 70 knots. The pilot feared that he would strike a berm at the end of the runway head on, and intentionally ground looped the glider, striking the berm at a 90-degree angle to the left. The glider was destroyed, and the pilot received minor injuries.

The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.