PIK 20 D rigging: elevator unconnected; aerotow release and impact

On aerotow from Purkshof, the pilot of a PIK 20 D was seriously injured and the glider substantially damaged after a loss of pitch control just after lift-off. The pilot found the elevator unresponsive; as the towed climb steepened past ~30 m AGL the pilot released the rope. The glider entered a ~35° descent and impacted ~744 m past the RWY 22 threshold; airbrakes had been deployed and retracted just before impact. During rigging the pilot had finished assembly alone after his helpers left and forgot to connect the elevator linkage; no full-and-free control check was performed before launch.

1. Aerotow launch, RWY 22: At 14:22 LT a PIK 20 D single-seat glider began an aerotow launch from RWY 22 of Purkshof airfield (EDCX) behind a Robin DR 400/180 R tug, intending a local flight. Wind 280° at 7 kt, visibility >10 km. Pilot held a glider licence with winch and aerotow endorsements and ~763 h total (~160 h on PIK 20).
2. Pilot rigged alone after helpers left: About three hours before the launch the pilot had begun rigging the glider with two helpers, who left after the wings were mounted. The pilot then continued assembly alone — connecting controls and taping the joints — and by his own statement forgot to connect the elevator linkage.
3. Full-and-free check skipped: No full-and-free check of the flight controls (Voll-und-frei-Prüfung) was performed with a helper before launch. The disconnected elevator linkage was not detected.
4. No elevator response on aerotow: Shortly after lift-off the pilot noted that the elevator was not responding to control inputs. Witnesses observed the towed glider's pitch attitude increase progressively as the tow climb continued.
5. Tow released at ~30 m AGL: At about 30 m AGL the pilot released the tow rope. Once free of the tug, the glider entered a steep descent at approximately 35° below the horizon.
6. Brief airbrake use; impact attitude set: The pilot deployed the airbrakes during the descent and retracted them just before impact. Without elevator authority, the descent angle could not be arrested.
7. Impact 744 m past threshold; pilot SI: The glider struck the ground in the south-west part of RWY 22 about 744 m beyond the runway threshold, the canopy detached and the left main-gear door separated; the glider slid a further ~60 m. The fuselage shell broke and delaminated in the cockpit area. The pilot was seriously injured and was extricated by rescue services. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The investigation was closed as a facts-only report under §18 FlUUG.