Puchacz student held elevator full-aft on winch launch

During the student's first training winch launch at Friedersdorf, the instructor and student of a Puchacz SZD-50-3 were seriously injured. After liftoff the nosewheel hit a grass mound; the student pulled the stick fully aft and held it. The glider pitched into a steep climb and the instructor could not push forward with both hands. The cable released at about 45 m AGL; with no recovery the glider rolled right and impacted nose-first. Investigators noted a tail-heavy trim, a light student near the minimum weight, and thick compressible seat cushions as contributing factors.

1. First training winch launch: The Puchacz with instructor and 15-year-old student (first instructional launch, two prior guest flights on a Bocian) began a winch launch from RWY 12 at Sonderlandeplatz Friedersdorf at 12:15.
2. Student locks stick fully aft: Immediately after liftoff the nosewheel struck a grass mound; the student pulled the control stick fully aft and held it locked, causing the glider to adopt a very steep climb attitude within about 3 seconds of becoming airborne.
3. Aft trim + light student + cushions: Configuration documented by BFU: elevator trim was set tail-heavy; the ~50 kg student was below the 55 kg minimum front-seat weight; two seat cushions ~18 cm thick but highly compressible (to ~6 cm). The aircraft had also recently completed control-system overhaul; control was initially stiff and was reworked.
4. Instructor unable to override: The instructor attempted with both hands to push the stick forward and repeatedly told the student to release the controls, but the student did not respond and the nose-high attitude was not corrected.
5. Cable releases at ~45 m: At about 45 m height the winch cable detached from the glider's hook; no nose-down recovery was observed and the aircraft remained in a high angle-of-attack condition.
6. Spin-like roll, nose-first impact: The glider rolled right, entered a shallow spin-like rotation and impacted the ground nose-first at a shallow angle near the launch point; both occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.