When landing accidents are looked at, the most common landing accident is landing too long. As I stated before, in 40 years at Ridge Soaring Gliderport, we have had two gliders land short of the runway. Probably thousands have landed well beyond where they intended - but not off the far end.

A well placed, proper length base leg is a very important judgment tool - especially when landing at a strange field. Speed control is also important as is dive brake technique.

Airspeed should be proper for the conditions and constant. The dive brakes are a good indicator how a pilot has performed the landing pattern. Full dive brakes should not be needed. Of course, a no-dive brake landing is also not using good judgment - but this is relatively rare.

A precision- flown landing pattern is based upon the need for a reasonable length base leg at a reasonable height flown at a reasonable airspeed, with a reasonable dive brake setting.

Tom Knauff