ASK 13 on uphill landing catches launching winch cable at 50 m on RWY 20

Two ASK 13 occupants were seriously injured on approach at Eschwege-Stauffenbühl and the aircraft was substantially damaged. The runway's uphill grade made opposite-direction operations normal: winch launches on RWY 02, landings on RWY 20. The ASK 13 was on short final to RWY 20 when a second glider winch-launched from RWY 02. At about 50 m AGL the ASK 13's right wing caught the cable, which cut into the spar; the wing broke off, the glider fell about 170 m from the winch and slid into bushes at the west field edge, breaking the left wing. The airfield was being operated without a flight controller, against an expired permit.

1. Sightseeing then approach to RWY 20: The pilot launched an ASK 13 on a winch for a sightseeing flight with a passenger, took off downhill per local procedure, and landed uphill on the opposite runway after ten minutes.
2. Opposite-direction ops (slope): Simultaneous launches on RWY 02 and landings on RWY 20 were normal here. While the ASK 13 was on approach, a second glider began a winch launch from RWY 02 in the opposite direction.
3. No flight controller, against permit: The airfield was being operated without a flight controller; the local permit for controller-free operation had expired in 2010 and had in any case excluded glider winch launches.
4. Wing catches cable at ~50 m on final: On short final to RWY 20 at about 50 m above the ground, the ASK 13's right wing caught the winch cable of the second glider, which had already released.
5. Cable cuts to spar; right wing breaks: The cable cut through the right wing from about the middle of the aileron into the main spar, and the wing broke off at that point. The airbrakes were found half-extended.
6. Slides into bushes; both hurt: The glider fell about 170 m from the winch, sliding into bushes 140 m from the threshold. The left wing broke 1.5 m from the root, and the cockpit was destroyed. Both were seriously injured.