ASW 19 wing catches tall grass on winch launch, glider rolls inverted

An ASW 19 B was substantially damaged on a winch launch from RWY 01 at Pinnow (Germany); the pilot was seriously injured. He was being checked out on the type with 250 h total, on a second flight after a prior 12-minute familiarisation. During the ground roll the right wing touched the ground and caught in about 40 cm vegetation beside the launch strip, which was mowed only for the first 40 m. The fuselage lifted, the glider rolled around its longitudinal axis, and impacted inverted 139 m from launch, about 20 m east of the winch strip.

1. Winch launch RWY 01 ~13:33 LT: At about 13:33 LT on 7 June 2015 the pilot began a winch launch in an ASW 19 B on RWY 01 of Sonderlandeplatz Pinnow. Wind was from the west at 6 kt; the winch is placed in the extension of RWY 01 so the effective launch direction is rotated about 10° west, pointing roughly north.
2. Type check-out, 2nd flight on ASW 19: The pilot held a glider licence with 250 hours total and 4:55 hours in the prior 90 days. He was being checked out on the ASW 19 type; this was his second flight on the type after a prior 12-minute flight.
3. Short mowed strip, 40 cm grass beyond: The launch area was only mowed short for the first ~40 m from the start point; beyond that the vegetation along the launch strip was about 40 cm tall.
4. Right wing catches in tall grass: During the ground roll witnesses saw the right wing touch the ground and become caught in the ~40 cm vegetation beside the mowed area.
5. Rolls inverted, impacts at 139 m: With the right wing held back, the fuselage lifted and the glider rolled around its longitudinal axis, impacting the ground inverted. It came to rest 139 m from the launch point, about 20 m east of the winch strip, oriented about 30° off the launch heading. The left wing broke at the aileron, the trailing edge split over ~70 cm; the tail boom developed a 1.8 m underside crack; the cockpit broke up in several places. The pilot was seriously injured.