ASK 21 ground-loops off-field after an early winch cable release

The pilot of an ASK 21 was seriously injured and a passenger slightly hurt when the glider ground-looped into a grain field after an early winch cable release; the glider was substantially damaged. On a trial flight, it gained only moderate height and reached about 40 m at mid-field when the cable released from the hook. After a brief straight segment it turned about 90 degrees left and drew away from the field at low height. The pilot dodged rows of trees and bushes and, closing on a building, pushed it down and deliberately put the left wing in first to ground-loop, stopping about 300 m from the airfield. No technical fault was found.

1. Winch launch, trial flight: An ASK 21 winch-launched at Iserlohn-Rheinermark with two aboard for a trial flight, in a strong wind of about 30 km/h.
2. Cable releases at about 40 m: After only a moderate climb the glider reached about 40 m at mid-field when the cable released from the hook.
3. Turns 90 degrees left, away from field: After a brief straight segment it turned about 90 degrees left and drew away from the field at low height, rather than landing ahead on the runway.
4. Dodges trees, faces a building: The pilot dodged rows of trees and bushes and closed on a building ahead of his path.
5. Deliberate ground-loop, left wing first: Before the building he pushed the glider down and deliberately put the left wing in first to ground-loop it.
6. Stops in a grain field: It came to rest in a grain field about 300 m from the airfield, substantially damaged; the pilot was seriously injured and a passenger slightly, and no technical fault was found.