Trainee stalls an LS 7-WL after a winch-cable break at 100 m

A student pilot was fatally injured when his LS 7-WL stalled and spun after a winch-cable break at Leck; the glider was destroyed. The solo launch was normal to about 50 m AGL, then the cable broke at roughly 100 m AGL. The glider levelled from the climb and the student released the trailing cable, but did not lower the nose to regain flying speed — the height was ample to complete the cable-break drill and land ahead on the brakes. Still slightly nose-high, the glider stalled, dropped over the right wing and struck the ground in a spin. On his fifth flight on type and not current on cable-break drills, the student was likely overwhelmed.

1. Winch launch (solo student): A student pilot began a solo winch launch in an LS 7-WL at Leck; the launch was normal to about 50 m AGL.
2. Cable break at ~100 m: At roughly 100 m above the ground the winch cable broke during the full climb — ample height to complete the cable-break drill and land ahead.
3. Recovery not initiated: The glider levelled off and the student released the trailing cable, but did not lower the nose to regain flying speed as the drill requires.
4. Overwhelmed, little practice: On only his fifth flight on type and without recent cable-break training, the student was likely overwhelmed.
5. Stall and spin: Still slightly nose-high, the glider stalled, dropped over the right wing and entered a spin too low to recover.
6. Crash - fatal: The glider struck the ground in a spin near Leck; the student was fatally injured and the glider destroyed.