LAK-17AT attempts engine start below flight-manual minimum altitude; crashes

A LAK-17AT self-sustaining motor glider was winch-launched from Mannheim (EDFM) at 10:43. After release at ~300-350 m AGL the pilot extended the sustainer engine and made two start attempts; the tower controller observed the airbrakes were also extended. About a minute after release the motor glider entered a steep left turn with high pitch-down and crashed onto a harvested field ~1 km east of the airfield. The flight manual specifies engine extension/start at minimum 400 m AGL, with +2 flaps and at least 8-10 km/h above stall. Aircraft destroyed; pilot fatally injured. No fire.

1. Winch launch climb: Winch launch at 10:43 LT from Mannheim City (EDFM, RWY 09 direction). Self-sustaining LAK-17AT motor glider in 15 m wingspan configuration, max TOM 500 kg. Vis >10 km, wind 130° at 7 kt. The pilot held ~1697 h total / 22 h on type (10 starts since 2015).
2. Engine extended after release: Witnesses observed that immediately after the cable release the pilot extended the sustainer engine, preparing to start it. The tower controller noted that during the engine extension the airbrakes were also deployed.
3. Two start attempts: A witness reported two engine start attempts after the cable release. The LAK-17AT has no engine starter — the propeller is wind-milled to start the engine (which requires sufficient airspeed achieved by diving). No throttle either: operation is full RPM only.
4. Below FM minimum start altitude: The flight manual (chapter 4.5.7) specifies engine extension/start at a minimum of 400 m AGL over landable terrain (1000 m AGL over unlandable). The motor glider was observed at ~300-350 m AGL when the engine was extended — below the FM minimum.
5. FM warnings on extension/start: FM warnings: flaps must be at +2 during extension/retraction; speed must be at least 8-10 km/h above the configuration's stall speed; engine extension/retraction at VPO = 90-110 km/h only; sink rate at 90 km/h with engine extended but not running is 1.8 m/s. Normal altitude loss from extension to engine running is ~70 m.
6. Steep left turn, nose-down: About one minute after cable release the motor glider entered a steep left turn with a high nose-down pitch attitude.
7. Crash - fatal: The LAK-17AT impacted a harvested field ~1 km east of the airfield (~100 cm crater, ~40 cm deep) with high pitch-down and bank attitude. Aircraft destroyed; pilot fatally injured. Wreckage findings: engine extended with bay doors closed; ignition switch off; propeller blades earth-marked but undamaged. No fire.