Ventus-3T loss of control after release on pilot's first flight on type

A Ventus-3T departed Hahnweide on aerotow. A ~2280 h XC pilot from the manufacturer flew a factory ship on a demo day, with no prior time on type and only AFM preparation. After a routine ~580 m tow, the tug pilot felt the tail yaw markedly right just before release; no radio confirmation followed. The glider rolled right then steepened into a near-vertical descent over several hundred metres. Just above the treetops the pilot pulled up abruptly with extreme wing flex but no breakup, then re-entered a near-vertical descent and impacted woods at ~70°. Aircraft destroyed; pilot fatal. No defects or medical impairment.

1. Aerotow climb to ~580 m: Ventus-3T (18 m, no water ballast, factory aircraft) launched by aerotow from Hahnweide rwy 31 (1000 m grass) for a local thermal flight. Light west wind, 4/8 Cu base ~4000 ft, 24 °C ground.
2. First flight on type: Pilot ~2280 h total, employed at the manufacturer, with extensive cross-country and competition experience but no prior time on the Ventus-3T. He had prepared by studying the flight manual; no in-type familiarization.
3. Loss of control at release: At the end of a routine ~3-minute tow at 580 m GND, the tug pilot felt the glider markedly yaw the tug's tail to the right just before the rope was released, and no radio confirmation of the release was received — indicating an unstable cockpit state already pre-release.
4. Steep right-turn descent: The glider rolled into a right turn that very quickly developed into a very steep nose-down attitude, held over several hundred metres of altitude.
5. High-G pull-up above treetops: Just before reaching the treetops the pilot pulled up abruptly; multiple witnesses saw the wings bend extremely upward (very high G load) but no parts separated.
6. Recurring steep descent: After the pull-up, the glider re-entered a very steep nose-down attitude and continued descending almost vertically.
7. Near-vertical crash - fatal: Impact at ~70° into a wooded area 5.4 km south of Hahnweide. Aircraft destroyed; pilot sustained fatal injuries. Technical inspection found no defects; autopsy found no medical impairment.