DG-400 stalls after first self-launch with engine left extended

A DG-400 was destroyed and the pilot seriously injured on a first self-launch on type, impacting forest east of the airfield near Moenchsheide (Germany). The pilot had 180 h total with 46 minutes on type from two prior aerotow flights, and his only 11 self-launches had all been on two-seaters. After a normal self-launch from RWY 28 he shut down the engine mid-downwind at about 450 m AGL but did not retract it. Witnesses saw the glider flown apparently slow northwest of the field. From about 150 m AGL it rolled right and dropped near-vertically. No technical defects were identified.

1. Self-launch RWY 28, 1st on type: The pilot began his first self-launch on this DG-400 from a grass runway at a glider airfield with an elevation of 672 ft AMSL; the aircraft had been refuelled before the flight.
2. 46 min on type, novice self-launcher: The pilot had limited recent flying and only 46 minutes on the DG-400; all his prior self-launches had been on two-seaters, this being his first on a single-seater.
3. Engine off mid-downwind, not stowed: The self-launch and initial climb were normal. Witnesses saw the engine shut down about mid-downwind; the pilot did not retract it, and the extended powerplant continued to produce drag.
4. Apparently slow NW of airfield: After flying a series of legs losing height northwest of the airfield, witnesses observed the glider being flown at apparently too low a speed northwest of the airfield.
5. Rolls right at ~150 m, vertical drop: From about 150 m AGL the aircraft rolled right and entered a very steep, almost vertical descent toward the woodland east of the airfield.
6. Vertical impact in forest: The DG-400 struck the forest nearly vertically; the left wing broke off on first tree contact and the aircraft came to rest inverted, empennage twisted off; the pilot was seriously injured.