Narrative:

Phx to tex, first officer was flying the aircraft. Approximately 6 mi southwest of telluride, we had left ZDV frequency to tex unicom. Unicom mentioned a glider was preparing to leave for runway 27. We were 5 mi final for runway 9. The tow pilot said they would be ready in 2 mins. We thought this meant that the glider and tow were holding short, since no word said that the tow/glider were actually on runway 27. Therefore, we radioed that we would continue for runway 9. Neither unicom, tow pilot, or glider said anything else. While touching down on the runway 9 I saw the glider at the fixed distance markers of runway 27. I immediately helped the first officer put the power levers to full reverse. Fortunately there was enough room to stop safely before reaching the glider. After the plane was parked, I talked with the FBO explaining that 'in preparation for runway 27' sounds like the glider/tow were holding short. Also I stated that it would be helpful if everyone, unicom, and tow/glider, would clearly state that the glider is on the runway so that there would be no mistake. In the future, we plan to pursue rapid communications even more in order to clearly know the position of any aircraft in the vicinity, especially towing gliders. Then when in doubt circle. Telluride is in mountainous terrain and is a challenging airport to service.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN LTT COMMUTER LANDED ON AN OCCUPIED RWY AND JUST GOT STOPPED BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A GLIDER ON THE RWY READY FOR A TOW.

Narrative: PHX TO TEX, FO WAS FLYING THE ACFT. APPROX 6 MI SW OF TELLURIDE, WE HAD LEFT ZDV FREQ TO TEX UNICOM. UNICOM MENTIONED A GLIDER WAS PREPARING TO LEAVE FOR RWY 27. WE WERE 5 MI FINAL FOR RWY 9. THE TOW PLT SAID THEY WOULD BE READY IN 2 MINS. WE THOUGHT THIS MEANT THAT THE GLIDER AND TOW WERE HOLDING SHORT, SINCE NO WORD SAID THAT THE TOW/GLIDER WERE ACTUALLY ON RWY 27. THEREFORE, WE RADIOED THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE FOR RWY 9. NEITHER UNICOM, TOW PLT, OR GLIDER SAID ANYTHING ELSE. WHILE TOUCHING DOWN ON THE RWY 9 I SAW THE GLIDER AT THE FIXED DISTANCE MARKERS OF RWY 27. I IMMEDIATELY HELPED THE FO PUT THE PWR LEVERS TO FULL REVERSE. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS ENOUGH ROOM TO STOP SAFELY BEFORE REACHING THE GLIDER. AFTER THE PLANE WAS PARKED, I TALKED WITH THE FBO EXPLAINING THAT 'IN PREPARATION FOR RWY 27' SOUNDS LIKE THE GLIDER/TOW WERE HOLDING SHORT. ALSO I STATED THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF EVERYONE, UNICOM, AND TOW/GLIDER, WOULD CLRLY STATE THAT THE GLIDER IS ON THE RWY SO THAT THERE WOULD BE NO MISTAKE. IN THE FUTURE, WE PLAN TO PURSUE RAPID COMS EVEN MORE IN ORDER TO CLRLY KNOW THE POS OF ANY ACFT IN THE VICINITY, ESPECIALLY TOWING GLIDERS. THEN WHEN IN DOUBT CIRCLE. TELLURIDE IS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND IS A CHALLENGING ARPT TO SVC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.