ASK 21 winch power loss at low altitude — driver misinterpreted noise as cable break

During a winch launch at Rheinstetten, both occupants of an ASK 21 were seriously injured in a hard landing; the glider sustained minor damage. After only marginal altitude gain, the winch driver heard a loud noise, took it as a cable break, and reduced power. Tension fell, the cable detached from the glider, and the glider transitioned from shallow climb to steep descent, impacting nosewheel-first about 213 m from launch. After the accident the cable, fall-parachute, weak link and pre-cable were all found intact in front of the winch; the cable had not actually broken.

1. Second winch launch of the day: The ASK 21 took off for its second winch launch of the day at Rheinstetten for a local instructional flight; the first launch and release had been normal.
2. Low altitude in initial climb phase: The pilot made few control inputs during the initial climb; the glider gained only marginal altitude and then stopped climbing while still low.
3. Winch driver reduced power on noise: The winch driver heard a loud noise from the winch, interpreted it as a cable break, and pulled back the power control, reducing cable pull during the low initial climb.
4. Cable tension fell, cable separated: With the reduced pull the cable went slack, the cable parachute deployed, and the cable separated from the glider; the start director called for a stop and the winch driver cut power.
5. Steep descent, no recovery: After the cable detached the glider pitched steeply toward the ground; the pilot could not arrest the descent before ground contact, and the climb had already stopped as the nose dropped.
6. Nosewheel impact ~213 m from launch: The glider touched down nosewheel-first about 213 m from the launch point, then rolled to a stop; both occupants were seriously injured, with damage limited to the main-wheel fairing.