LS 8 rolls off a very steep winch climb on a first flight on type

The pilot of an LS 8 was killed when it crashed almost vertically moments after a winch launch at Hockenheim; aircraft destroyed. It was the pilot's first flight on the type, with no type checkout beyond a read of the manual; witnesses at start-up had noticed trouble identifying the cockpit controls and a poor seating position. The launch ran and lifted off normally; then, still low, the glider pitched into a very steep climb, rolled off to the right, and struck the grass runway about 200 m out. No technical fault was found; loading and centre of gravity were within limits.

1. First winch launch on the type: A low-hours pilot, on a first flight on the LS 8 with no type checkout beyond reading the manual, was winch-launched at Hockenheim.
2. Cockpit confusion, poor seating: At start-up, witnesses saw the pilot struggle to identify the cockpit controls, seated in a less-than-optimal position.
3. Very steep climb, still low: After a normal ground run and lift-off, the glider went, still at low height, into a very steep winch climb.
4. Rolls off to the right: At the top of the steep climb the glider dropped its right wing.
5. Near-vertical impact, fatal: It struck the grass runway almost vertically about 200 m from the launch point, destroyed, and the pilot was killed; no technical fault was found.