LS 7 stalls in a low turn after a winch launch failure

The pilot of an LS 7 was seriously injured and the glider heavily damaged when it stalled in a low turn after a winch launch failure at Heppenheim. On a familiarisation flight on the unfamiliar type, the low-time pilot was launched much too fast — about 150 km/h — and his calls to slow down left the glider too slow moments later, when the cable came off at around 60 m. He pushed the nose down to recover, judged himself too high to land straight ahead, and began a left turn for a shortened circuit. About 180° into the turn, with his airspeed unwatched, the glider dropped a wing and struck the ground.

1. Familiarisation winch launch: A low-time pilot, new to the LS 7, was on a familiarisation flight and launched by winch at Heppenheim.
2. Too fast, then too slow: The launch was much too fast, about 150 km/h; the pilot called for less speed, and moments later the glider was too slow as the winch driver reduced power.
3. Cable comes off at ~60 m: The cable released from the glider at about 60 m above ground; the pilot pushed the nose down and re-established a normal attitude.
4. Turns for a shortened circuit: Judging himself too high to land straight ahead, he began a left turn to fly a shortened circuit back to the runway.
5. Stalls in the turn, hits the ground: About 180° into the turn, with his airspeed unwatched, the glider dropped a wing and struck the ground from around 50 m; the pilot was seriously injured and the glider heavily damaged.